June 25th 2023.
Kevin De Bruyne has been dealt a huge blow after scans revealed a Grade Three hamstring tear sustained during Manchester City's Champions League final win. The 31-year-old midfielder, who has been one of the best players in the world for the past seven years, was forced to leave the game against Inter Milan after just 36 minutes.
This means that he will miss the start of next season, including City's first two fixtures of the 2023/24 campaign - the FA Community Shield against Arsenal and the Premier League opener away to Burnley. Furthermore, he will be sidelined for the UEFA Super Cup, in which City face Europa League winners Sevilla in Greece.
However, Manchester City are optimistic that he will be back on the pitch for their next match on 16th August. Club doctors are confident that De Bruyne will be fit in time for the Super Cup, though he will miss out on the club's summer pre-season.
The injury could also affect his chances of becoming City's new captain following the departure of skipper Ilkay Gundogan. Defenders Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker are the frontrunners for the armband alongside the attacking midfielder.
The Citizens round off August with a tricky home clash against Newcastle and a trip to newly-promoted Sheffield United. With their star man missing, City will have to make do without him for at least the first few matches of the season in order to ensure he makes a full recovery.
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