Man City Suffer Big Blow As Kevin De Bruyne Tests Positive For COVID-19

Manchester City has confirmed that midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has tested positive for the dreaded COVID-19 disease.

The club’s manager, Pep Guardiola confirmed this while addressing a press conference on Friday, November 19.

Naija News understands that the Belgian professional footballer will miss out on Manchester City’s next clash with Everton in the English Premier League and next week’s Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain.

Guardiola told journalists today that De Bruyne was isolated for 10 days after receiving the positive test during the recent international break.

The City boss said: “Kevin got positive from Covid. He will be 10 days isolated,” Guardiola said on Friday. “Two days ago, he told me that he was positive. He is here (in Manchester).

“Forget about the fitness, the momentum, he has to recover well. The human being is more important than anything else.”

Guardiola explained further that the 30-year-old had been vaccinated, adding that he is more concerned about ensuring his star player avoids a serious bout of the virus than his absence from the team.

“Right now people are dying in this pandemic. He was vaccinated so is more protected and hopefully, the symptoms will be minor,” Guardiola said.

“He will come back as soon as possible. There is no concern about the rhythm or what we are going to miss. We have to help him,” Pep added.

Not limited to De Bruyne’s Covid status, Guardiola’s squad have also suffered a major setback as one of the club’s forwarders, Jack Grealish is also likely to miss out with the knock that forced him to withdraw from the England squad before Monday’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino.

In addition to Grealish’s injury, City playmaker Phil Foden’s availability for the Everton game is uncertain after he also suffered a leg problem on England duty.