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ESPN staff 9y

Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne: Man City have made 'informal contact'

Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed to Sky Sports News that Manchester City have made "informal contact" but said Wolfsburg would ultimately decide his future.

Belgium international De Bruyne, who has been voted the Bundesliga's finest outfield player of the season by his fellow professionals, has been linked with a host of clubs in recent months including City, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

His agent has already said that all three have registered their interest but the midfielder, who joined Wolfsburg from Chelsea in January last year, said it would be down to his club.

"We say to everybody -- if they want to do something they have to go to Wolfsburg, not to me," he said.

"I always thought that I was going to talk to my club first when the season was over, and for me the season is not over. That starts probably next week or the week after but I will also be on vacation.

"I don't have any stress about these things. It will come this way and I know that there are a lot of rumours and the papers are writing a lot."

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said that Volkswagen-owned Wolfsburg, who have secured a place in the Champions League next season after heavy investment, will not be tempted to cash in on De Bruyne.

"They are a buying club," he told Sport Bild. "The transfers of [Luiz] Gustavo, De Bruyne and [Andre] Schurrle speak for themselves. We are aware that he is under contract until 2019. There is no reason for Wolfsburg to consider selling him right now, and that's the end of it."

Asked whether he was surprised by Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs' statement that his club would not even think about a €50 million offer for De Bruyne, Rummenigge said: "I can very clearly answer that with a 'no.'"

De Bruyne told L'Equipe this week that he was "95 percent" sure he would not join a club in Russia or Italy but said England, Spain, France and Germany "appeal" to him as they suit his style of play.

However, he has already said he will not return to Chelsea while Jose Mourinho is in charge, having had limited opportunities during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Asked about his former club by Sky Sports News, he added: "My time at Chelsea wasn't bad. Everybody talks about it and that it was really bad but I just decided I didn't want to stay at the club under those circumstances -- I just wanted to play football and that's what I did."

Mourinho has indicated that De Bruyne's attitude in training ultimately led to his exit, but the 23-year-old said in Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung: "I still don't get why Mourinho allowed me to leave. I never talked to him about it.

"He said it was my attitude in training? That's an excuse he can use, but I don't think anyone in Belgium or the Bundesliga ever complained."

The German newspaper believes De Bruyne is set to sign a new contract that will see him extend the agreement beyond 2019 and improve his salary but include a release clause.

ESPN FC's Germany correspondent Stephan Uersfeld contributed to this report.

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