Thierry Henry has revealed that Kevin De Bruyne is playing a ‘private’ personal issue after the pair shared an emotional embrace following Manchester City’s Champions League semi-final win over Real Madrid.
City secured a 5–1 aggregate victory over the reigning European champions, with De Bruyne playing a key role.
De Bruyne has three children with wife Michele Lacroix, who watched Wednesday night’s match from the stands at the Etihad Stadium.
The Belgian star scored City’s equalizer in last week’s 1-1 draw in the first leg before providing the assist for B.Ernardo Silva’s crucial opening goal.
The goal set the stage for City’s 4-0 victory on the night as Pep Guardiola’s side set up a final against Inter Milan.
Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry embraced after Man City’s win against Real Madrid
De Bruyne was crucial in both legs of the Champions League semi-final in helping City progress
The Man City star, pictured with his wife Michele Lacroix, was key to their Treble pursuit
De Bruyne, who was substituted in the 84th minute, was seen hugging former Belgian assistant coach Thierry Henry following a post-match conversation.
Henry, who worked as a pundit for CBS, said he had “even more respect” for the midfielder because he played level after their “private” conversation.
‘It was [a touching moment]. I can’t say because I have to keep that private,’ said Henry.
“But from what he said to me, I have even more respect for how he played tonight and how he came and competed with his team. I can’t share what he said because I can’t share it. That’s how it is.
“But again, I’ll go back to, for me he’s the most important player.”
Mail sports understands that City want to keep the matter private and are confident that this will not affect the rest of the season.
The exchange between De Bruyne and Henry came after the midfielder told City boss Guardiola to ‘shut up’.
De Bruyne and Guardiola had been seen rowing in the second half, after he was robbed of possession.
Guardiola was left seething as the Belgian drove forward with the ball just inside Madrid’s half and, after failing to spot a possible pass to Jack Grealish on the left, was stripped of possession by Militao.
De Bruyne’s wife Michele Lacroix, centre, celebrating City’s semi-final win from the stands
De Bruyne reportedly told Pep Guardiola to shut up during a second-half disagreement
The pair put their brief dispute behind them as they enjoyed a celebratory hug on the sidelines
The City boss walked back to the sofa as he stared at the floor after the argument.
The win over Real Madrid moved City one step closer to a potential Treble, with Guardiola’s side poised to retain the Premier League title ahead of both the Champions League and FA Cup finals.
De Bruyne was cheered from the stands by his wife Michele, whom he married in 2017.
The couple have been together since 2014, proposing to the Belgian under the Eiffel Tower during a romantic trip to Paris in 2016.
They are the parents of sons Mason, seven, Rome, four, and daughter Suri, two.
De Bruyne had worked under Henry during the Frenchman’s two spells as Belgian assistant manager.
Henry worked as an assistant to former Belgium boss Roberto Martinez between 2016-2018 and 2021-22.
The 45-year-old left the role at Martinez after Belgium’s exit in the group stage at the World Cup in Qatar.
Henry worked alongside De Bruyne during his two spells as Belgium’s assistant coach
Henry had praised De Bruyne after last week’s semi-final first leg, saying the 31-year-old’s brain is the ‘best’ he’s ever seen.
“I think Kevin, his brain is the best I’ve seen,” said Henry. “Because his brain, in places I don’t know what he’s thinking about sometimes, honestly. You look at him and it’s like he’s not with us, it can almost be a problem because you’re not on his level.
“I think he’s the smartest player I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s just unparalleled, the way he thinks. I saw him off and on with Belgium for six years, you like the guy more because I saw things he did in training and in matches.
‘He’s a perfectionist, unbelievable. Kevin, his brain, I’m still thinking about things I’ve seen and it’s just from another planet.”