MIRROR
Kevin De Bruyne is refusing to allow the shock of having his family home burgled to halt his bid for a Manchester City return.
De Bruyne was told that his mansion in the Belgian hamlet of Zolder had been ransacked when he landed in Saudi Arabia with the rest of Pep Guardiola ’s squad on Sunday to prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup.
But he has remained in the Middle East to continue his fight for fitness after being sidelined since August following surgery to repair a ruptured hamstring. De Bruyne trained with his team-mates ahead of City’s semi-final clash with Asia Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday.
Guardiola has insisted it is unlikely that he will play in either of his team’s two games. But the prospect of the 32-year-old playmaker being close to a return will give the faltering Treble winners a huge lift as they attempt to win a fourth successive Premier League title.
De Bruyne’s wife, Michele Lacroix, discovered the break-in when she returned to the family’s 70-acre property at the weekend. No-one was in the house when it was ransacked, but several items were stolen.
It is believed the robbery took place between 4pm and 9pm on Saturday evening, when De Bruyne was in Manchester watching his team throw away a two-goal lead to draw with Crystal Palace.
De Bruyne took four years building his luxury home after buying a plot of land in east Belgium in 2015. The family spend most of their time in Manchester.
The midfielder’s Belgium team-mate Toby Alderweireld, the former Tottenham defender, also had his Belgian home burgled recently.
