**Key Takeaways:**
– Kevin de Bruyne, the Manchester City midfielder, will miss upcoming friendlies for Belgium against the Republic of Ireland and England due to a groin strain.
– De Bruyne has also been sidelined for City’s FA Cup quarter-final match against Newcastle United.
– The injury occurred during a Premier League match against Liverpool, leading to his substitution at the 69-minute mark.
– Belgium’s manager, Domenico Tedesco, emphasized the importance of not risking De Bruyne’s health, opting to allow him time to recover for Manchester City and future European Championship preparations.
– De Bruyne had previously missed five months of the season due to a hamstring injury, with concerns about whether the current injury is related.
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Belgium will be without Manchester City’s star midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne, for their upcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and England due to a groin strain. This injury also rules him out of Manchester City’s crucial FA Cup quarter-final clash with Newcastle United this Saturday.
The 32-year-old player was forced to leave the field 69 minutes into Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool last Sunday, an incident that has led to his current unavailability. Belgium is scheduled to play the Republic on March 23 and England at Wembley on March 26, matches that will now proceed without one of their key players.
Domenico Tedesco, the Belgium manager, has stated that De Bruyne has been battling this injury over the last few matches. He stressed the importance of not taking any risks with De Bruyne’s health, especially with the European Championship on the horizon. “It is better to give him time to recover well at City and then have him ready for the European Championship,” Tedesco remarked.
After the international break, Manchester City, currently in third place, is set to host Premier League leaders Arsenal on March 31. De Bruyne’s absence could be a significant blow to City’s campaign, given that he had already missed the first five months of the season due to a hamstring injury. Tedesco mentioned that it’s unclear if the current groin strain is related to the previous hamstring issue. “Yesterday I spoke to the doctor and Kevin, and we decided the risk is too great. It is our responsibility to take into account the player but also the player’s club,” Tedesco concluded, highlighting the careful consideration given to De Bruyne’s situation.