Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is facing a period on the sidelines due to a groin strain, as reported by BBC Sport.
The Belgian playmaker has been omitted from Belgium’s squad for upcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and England this month, as well as being ruled out of City’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Newcastle United.
The injury concern arose during Manchester City’s recent Premier League fixture against Liverpool, where De Bruyne was substituted after 69 minutes.
Manager Domenico Tedesco acknowledged that the 32-year-old has been grappling with the injury over the past few matches and emphasized the importance of not risking further aggravation, especially with a player of De Bruyne’s caliber.
Tedesco stated, “It is better to give him time to recover well at City and then have him ready for the European Championship.”
With Belgium set to face the Republic of Ireland and England in late March, the decision to prioritize De Bruyne’s recovery aligns with both his and the club’s long-term interests.
Reflecting on the situation, Tedesco expressed uncertainty about any potential connection between De Bruyne’s current groin strain and his previous hamstring injury, which sidelined him for the first five months of the season.
However, he emphasized the need to prioritize the player’s well-being.