De Bruyne says farewell to Etihad with typical aplomb

A tear rolled down Pep Guardiola’s cheek. Kevin de Bruyne had been given the guard of honour by his teammates, seen the montage on the big screen of some of his magnificent moments over the last decade.

- RICHARD JOLLY

Then came the videoed tributes from the men who are part of his, and Guardiola’s, past: from Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany, from Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane, from Fernandinho and Pablo Zabaleta. He just about kept his own emotions in check.

An era ended with a mosaic of De Bruyne unveiled at the training ground and a statue of him commissioned to stand outside the Etihad Stadium. The Manchester City faithful had taken a break from incessant chants of his name to chorus that they wanted him to stay. “I’ll always be around,” said arguably the outstanding player in the ground’s history. Just in bronze and not on the pitch.

“I am pretty sure when Kevin arrives here was not a Man City fan. Now he is and will be forever,” said Guardiola after De Bruyne waved farewell, his three children by his side, with a host of presents. Including one that Guardiola prized most.

He had said his captain’s ideal parting gift would be a win to propel City towards the Champions League. They got it, leapfrogging them from sixth to third. They only require a point at Fulham on Sunday to salvage something from the most troubled of campaigns.