De Bruyne one of PL's greatest players - Pep

Pep Guardiola has lauded Kevin De Bruyne arsenic "one of the top Premier League players ever" and added the midfielder's departure from Manchester City is simply a "sad day" for the club.

The 33-year-old announced connected Friday that he volition beryllium leaving City astatine the extremity of the season, 10 years aft helium signed for the nine from Wolfsburg successful a £55 cardinal ($71m) deal.

De Bruyne has lifted 16 trophies during his clip astatine the Etihad Stadium, including six Premier League titles, 5 League Cups, 2 FA Cups, 2 Community Shields and a Champions League.

"It's a bittersweet day. What helium gives each of america which is humanity and of course, I don't person to archer you his power connected our occurrence successful the past decennary -- it would beryllium intolerable to ideate without him," Guardiola told a quality league connected Friday.

"It's a bittersweet time due to the fact that a portion of america is leaving. When Vincent [Kompany] near oregon Sergio [Agüero] oregon David [Silva] near -- these players that person made specified a large publication -- it's a bittersweet day.

"We inactive person 10 games and hopefully 11, six games astatine home, that we tin bask with our fans and helium volition get I'm beauteous sure, the emotion and designation that helium deserves."

The Belgium planetary confirmed helium volition depart City arsenic a escaped cause successful the summertime successful a heartfelt post connected societal media.

He did not accidental whether helium would play for City astatine the Club World Cup that is being held successful the United States betwixt June 14 and July 13.

"He is 1 of the top Premier League players ever and astatine this club, determination is nary uncertainty astir that," Guardiola said. "You ever person to beryllium cautious erstwhile you accidental top retired of respect for the players that person played successful the past 20-30 years astatine this nine but determination is nary uncertainty helium is 1 of the top for sure.

"His consistency successful important games and each 3 games being determination each the time, determination is nary doubt."

Guardiola suggested that helium expects the nine to physique a statue astatine the Etihad arsenic they person done for Kompany, Agüero and Silva.

"Listen, I don't know, but I volition stake a batch of wealth that it is going to happen," helium said. "I don't know, but of course, travel on, helium deserves to beryllium successful this level."

Asked what helium had learnt from De Bruyne, Guardiola said: "His assists, his goals. His imaginativeness successful the final-third is truthful hard to replace. Every 1 tin marque actions and assists but however galore years and however galore games makes him unique.

"This is simply a concern and players person to execute good and the manager has to execute good and immoderate idiosyncratic tin sermon his show implicit the past decennary has been outstanding.

"We person won a batch of trophies and helium has been progressive successful each azygous one. He is portion of the club. The doorway is unfastened for the remainder of his beingness astatine the club. He is portion of the household of this club. The interaction of immoderate players transcend adjacent the interaction that they person done connected the transportation and helium is 1 of them."

Manchester United caput manager Ruben Amorim echoes Guardiola's words erstwhile helium spoke to the media connected the different broadside of the city.

"He's been 1 of the champion midfielders successful the Premier League. Time passes for everyone. It's a earthy thing. He improved the league," Amorim said. "He was connected the incorrect broadside of Manchester but I privation him bully luck. I was pleased to spot him successful Portugal a batch of times."