Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has rubbished suggestions of a rift with Kevin De Bruyne, insisting he is “desperate” to have the playmaker back at his best.

A number of prominent pundits, including former City defender and club ambassador Micah Richards, have questioned why the Belgium international has not been starting games amid the champions’ dramatic slump.

City have not won in seven outings in all competitions – their worst run since 2008 – with De Bruyne featuring only as a substitute in the last five of those matches after recovering from a pelvic injury.

The latest came with a 12-minute run-out in Sunday’s demoralising 2-0 defeat at Premier League leaders Liverpool, a result which left City 11 points off the pace and fifth in the table.

Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast it appeared “there’s some sort of rift going on” between De Bruyne and Guardiola while former England striker Gary Lineker added: “It seems like all’s not well.”

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said he felt “something isn’t right” and fellow Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville, the ex-Manchester United right-back, described the situation as “unusual, bizarre, strange”.

Guardiola, speaking at a press conference to preview his side’s clash with Nottingham Forest, responded on Tuesday.

The Spaniard said: “People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin. Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? No, I don’t want Kevin to play?

“The guy who has the most talent in the final third, I don’t want it? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together?

“He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club, but he’s been five months injured (last season) and two months injured (this year).

“He’s 33 years old. He needs time to find his best, like last season, step by step. He’ll try to do it and feel better. I’m desperate to have his best.”

De Bruyne has not started since being forced off at half-time of City’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan on September 18, having picked up an injury in the previous game.

Both the player and manager have spoken since of the pain he was in and the need to ease back into action, but his spell on the bench has been unexpectedly long.

The resulting speculation has then been exacerbated because De Bruyne is in the final year of his contract but Guardiola maintains nothing untoward has occurred.

He said: “I’d love to have the Kevin in his prime, 26 or 27. He would love it to – but he is not 26 or 27 any more.

“He had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy. You think I’m complaining? It’s normal, it’s nature.

“He’s played in 10 or 11 seasons a lot of games and I know he is desperate to help us. He gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have.

“But, always I said, he himself will not solve our problems, like Erling (Haaland) won’t solve it himself. We attack and defend together.

“We want the best players back. Hopefully step by step the confidence will come back and we’ll get the best of all of us.”

Lionel Messi looks to be on course to sign a new deal with Inter Miami, which could all but guarantee his participation in the next World Cup.

There had been hints that Messi could be ready to call time on his stay in the United States and head back to Argentina when his current deal expires. However, according to Argentinian outlet TyC Sports, Messi, whose current contract with the David Beckham co-owned club runs until the end of the 2025 season, is ready to sign on the dotted line to keep him in Florida for a little while longer.

Messi, who made the switch to the MLS in July 2023, has been a lynchpin in altering the fortunes of Miami. He helped the team win the Supporters’ Shield this season as they amassed a record breaking 74 points in the Eastern Conference.

Despite their glittering campaign, Miami crashed out in the play-offs in surprising fashion after they were beaten by Atlanta United. Despite the unceremonious end to his season, reports say that he is close to finalising a new contract that would extend his stay until after the tournament, which is set to kick off in North America come June 2026, with the US, Canada and Mexico co-hosting the World Cup.

The length of the rumored extension has now fueled speculation that the 37-year-old could make a surprise appearance in what would be his sixth World Cup. Taking to X, the Argentinian publication claimed: “Leo Messi has a contract with Inter Miami until December 2025. There is a willingness to renew it until after the 2026 World Cup. It has not yet been resolved but it is on track to be done.”

While he is viewed as an elder statesman of the Argentinian national side, Messi remains an integral part of the set-up and has helped his country to the top of the World Cup qualifying standings. Many had expected Messi to return to his homeland in the near future, but it is felt that the Argentinian hero is more than happy in America.

Messi’s compatriot, and fellow national team legend, Mario Kempes has declared that the star is enjoying life in Florida. “Messi is three times happier playing in Inter Miami than at Barcelona, he is doing things very well,” Kempes told TNT Sports.

“It’s not about coming in and having to be focused for the whole ninety minutes. He plays when he wants to.” While former team-mate and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta also insisted Messi has found a new lease of life stateside.

“I would say he has found an environment where he feels comfortable, where he feels at ease,” Iniesta said to ESPN. “He is in a project that excites him, a project with an ambition to grow and he is surrounded by great players.”

Miami entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed after blitzing the regular standings with help from Messi. However, it was an Atlanta side that finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, a whopping 34 points behind Miami, that brought Messi’s dream of lifting the MLS Cup to a swift end.

Even though Miami fell short of winning the cup, Messi managed to score 21 goals in 22 league appearances as he looks to have cemented himself as a club legend already.

FIFPRO have announced their 26-player shortlist for the 2024 Women’s World 11, with Brazil legend Marta and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati both making the cut.

Marta was part of Orlando Pride’s history-making side as they won the NWSL championship for the first time, while she also helped Brazil reach the Olympic final. Bonmati, on the other hand, was part of Barcelona’s incredible quadruple-winning side, which included a league title and the Champions League.

The Lionesses are represented by nine players, including goalkeeper Mary Earps and defensive trio Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood and Millie Bright. Keira Walsh, Ella Toone, Lauren James and Alessia Russo also feature.

The World 11 is the only global player award voted for exclusively by professional footballers, and this year a record number of 28,000 players from 70 countries have voted for the men’s and women’s 11. The finalists announced today are the xx players who have received the most votes in their position, with the complete World 11 set to be announced in a week’s time, which will include one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and free forwards, with the final spot reserved for the remaining outfield player with the most votes.

The first edition of the men’s World 11 took place in 2005, while the women’s version of the award was introduced 10 years later in 2015. Bronze has made the World 11 for the last six years, while Earps, Greenwood, Toone, Walsh, Russo and James were all included last year.

FIFPRO Women’s World 11 shortlist 2024
Goalkeepers
Christiane Endler (Lyon)
Defenders
Selma Bacha (Lyon)
Ona Batlle (Barcelona)
Millie Bright (Chelsea)
Lucy Bronze (Chelsea)
Olga Carmona (Real Madrid)
Jess Carter (Chelsea/NJ/NY Gotham)
Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave)
Alex Greenwood (Manchester City)

Midfielders
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
Debinha (Kansas City Current)
Ingrid Engen (Barcelona)
Lindsey Horan (Lyon)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Ella Toone (Manchester United)
Keira Walsh (Barcelona)

Forwards
Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid)
Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride)
Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid)
Tabitha Chawinga (Paris Saint-Germain/Lyon)
Lauren James (Chelsea)
Marta (Orlando Pride)
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
Alessia Russo (Arsenal)