The Belgian midfielder recently signed a two-year contract extension which will keep him at the Club until the summer of 2025 and he is keen to ensure he makes a positive impact in every aspect of the Club during his remaining years.
With Vincent Kompany and David Silva both having departed in recent seasons and with Sergio Aguero set to do the same in the summer, De Bruyne has embraced his status as one of City’s senior players.
He is part of Pep Guardiola’s five-man leadership team, captaining the side on 14 occasions in the Premier League this season and he believes such experiences will help him grow on and off the pitch.
“I want the team to progress,” he told Joleon Lescott on the latest episode of the Man City Podcast.
“Even the youth I want to help them, the women’s team – it’s important for this club to promote everything.
“I am in a position to help everybody at this club, and this is my part to play now.
“Since I was made one of the captains, I have progressed in that [leadership] part. I do fairly well. In certain areas, I can still do better.
“That’s why I am here, to help this team and the whole club get better, and that will help me in the end.
“To take a leadership role will help me evolve as a human being and in other aspects of life.”
De Bruyne has been a pivotal figure in City’s recent success, winning eight trophies and a raft of individual prizes since his arrival in 2015.
Just three players remain from his first season under Manuel Pellegrini, but the playmaker, who turns 30 in June, has continued to operate at his instrumental best this season as Guardiola moves towards the second phase of his City tenure.
De Bruyne appreciates the faith the Club have shown in him by agreeing a deal which will see him complete 10-years at the Etihad Stadium, an achievement he feels will be something to be proud of.
“I didn’t know the rules about a testimonial but to get an extension at my age shows the confidence the team has in me,” he added.
“I have been here for six years and we have been pushing so many limits with the club and the progress has been unbelievable.
“The team has basically changed – everybody has gone and new players came in so it’s really nice for them to have the confidence to keep me for another four years.
“If that takes me to ten, that’s pretty special, I think.”
Lescott’s interview with De Bruyne is available on the latest episode of the Man City Podcast.
You can listen ad-free on CITY+ in the video above or below on Acast.
