Real Madrid have knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League this season.
Los Blancos sealed a 6-3 aggerate win after securing a 3-0 win over Manchester City in the second leg of the play-off at the Santiago Bernabéu earlier this week.
Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne played 84 minutes in the first leg at the Etihad but was an uninsured substitute in the return leg in Madrid.
Former Belgium international Franky Van der Elst wasn’t happy with Pep Guardiola’s decision to drop the 33-year-old. Voetbalkrant have relayed his comments.
The attacking midfielder suffered a hamstring injury in September that kept him on the sidelines for over a month. He’s been in and out of Manchester City’s playing XI in recent weeks.
De Bruyne has played 1,428 minutes from 26 games in all competitions, and it includes 11 league starts.
Van der Elst played over 450 games for Club Brugge and over 80 matches for Belgium during his playing career. He was surprised that his compatriot didn’t feature against the La Liga side earlier this week.
“My football heart bled. I’d rather see him on the pitch, among the very best. That’s where he belongs. Men of that level want to be on that pitch in such a match. Kevin has suffered, I think. That must have hurt,” he said.
“I was shocked by it. He’s still De Bruyne after all. He is no longer the player of a few years ago, but still, someone who can bring something extra.”
De Bruyne’s contract expires in June and is expected to leave the Etihad in the summer. The 63-year-old has encouraged him to move to MLS instead of Saudi Arabia.
“I would go to the MLS in America, for my family,” Van der Elst explained.
“For the money, he shouldn’t do it anymore. In Saudi Arabia he can earn more, but in the US he still pockets a lot of money.”
