Kevin de Bruyne seeks fitting Man City farewell in FA Cup final

LONDON – Kevin de Bruyne can add another honour to his haul as Manchester City’s most decorated player of all time with a fitting farewell in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on May 17.

The Belgian’s trophy-littered decade in Manchester will come to a conclusion at the end of this Premier League season, and Wembley’s showpiece is the 33-year-old’s final chance to lift silverware at the club where he grew into one of world’s best players.

A six-time Premier League winner, the playmaker could add a third FA Cup to his five League Cups and 2023 Champions League win with City.

De Bruyne has expressed his “surprise” that the club did not seek to extend his stay, filled with the belief that he can still perform at the highest level.

He rolled back the years when City rallied from 2-0 down to thrash Palace 5-2 just in April with a goal and an assist.

City will be hoping for more of the same to give him a fitting farewell and save some face from a season to forget for Pep Guardiola’s men.

After an unprecedented run of four consecutive Premier League titles, City are 18 points adrift of champions Liverpool and embroiled in a battle just to finish in the top five to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

De Bruyne’s decline has played a factor in City’s downturn.

Of his 108 goals and 177 assists for the club in 419 appearances, only six and eight respectively have come this season.

However, he remains “irreplaceable” due to his impact in City’s rise to being the dominant force in English football, according to the club’s prolific striker Erling Haaland.

“To get the balls from him is a dream,” said the Norwegian hotshot.

“It has been really special