History is repeating itself for Kevin De Bruyne. After only 35 minutes of play during the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan on Saturday, the Citizens' playmaker was forced to give way to Phil Foden. Terrible stroke of fate, he had already left his partners during the 2021 final, in the 5th, following a clash with Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, victim of a fracture of the nose and a bone around the left orbit.
On Saturday night, after an early warning in the 30th when he held the back of his right thigh and sat in the grass after sprinting during a defensive pullback, De Bruyne tried to insist but realized five minutes later. With a gesture of his hand in desperation he signaled to the bench that he could not continue and had to be replaced.
2021 #UCLFinal: Subs off in the 60' minute 2023 UCL Final: Subs off in 36' minute
Kevin De Bruyne leaves the pitch early in back-to-back Champions League finals for Man City. 🤕 pic.twitter.com/Pv02O3Vnul
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 10, 2023
A big loss for Pep Guardiola's team as the Belgian has delivered 31 assists this season and his connection with Erling Haaland is one of the English club's strengths.
