Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne spoke to the fans at the Etihad Stadium following the 3-1 victory over Bournemouth in the 37th round of the Premier League.

The player, who was celebrated by the club in his last match at the Etihad, said: "Manchester is my home, Manchester is where these little ones (his children) were born. I came here with my wife Michelle to stay here for a long time; I never expected to stay here for ten years. Thanks to what we have achieved as a club, fans, and teammates, we have won everything. We have grown the city and the club, and now they will dominate the scene."

He added: "I wanted to play creatively, I wanted to play with passion. I wanted to enjoy football, and I hope everyone enjoys it. Everyone pushed me hard inside and outside the club to be the best version of myself, and these young people, everyone we see on the screen, and these young people in front of me made me better than I was before. It is an honor for me to play with these young people. I have made many lifelong friendships. We will definitely be back soon."

He continued: "This team aims to entertain the fans and achieve victory. Everyone is putting in a lot of effort behind the scenes and on the pitch. This team will win in the future, with or without me, and all the city residents will support it, their fans, as they have done with me over the past ten years. This team will achieve success, that is for sure."

He added: "All we want is to perform well and win, and when we win, we want more. We want to encourage the city, and we have held five or six parades, and it has been great to witness everything happening in the city. All the moments I spent with my teammates are countless. It has been my pleasure."

He elaborated: "The fans have been very welcoming from the beginning. Having the stadium almost full to support my family and me shows everything. Who can wait for 50,000 people to say goodbye to him? It's indescribable, and thank you very much."

Regarding the club making a statue of him: "This means I will always be a part of this club. I always represent a small part of it, and whenever I return with these players and with my family and friends, I will be able to see myself standing around the stadium. I will always be here."

He concluded: "I think the best description of my life with my wife and three children is that we have completely blended in. We understand where the club has come and why it means so much to many. Together, we have built a bright future for you guys, for the club to perform the way it will. I know it's been a somewhat tough year for us, but I believe the team deserves all your support. I know they are fighting hard, and this team will come back next year seeking to win all the titles, so they deserve this."

He finished: "I think after 10 years, it's time for someone to speak a little, and it's time to say goodbye. I will return, but we love you and see you soon."