18 December 2023 , 10:55
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Kevin De Bruyne’s mansion was ransacked by a gang on Saturday and, while no one was hurt, the Manchester City star had a number of items stolen from his family’s sprawling property in Zandstraat, east Belgium.
The robbery took place between 4pm and 9pm and police said De Bruyne’s wife, Michele Lacroix, discovered the break in.
De Bruyne is currently with City’s squad in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Club World Cup and the house was empty when the burglary occurred.
The midfielder purchased approximately 70 acres of land in the hamlet near Zolder in 2015 and the house, which is made of white natural stone and features a swimming pool, was completed in February 2019. His compatriot Toby Alderweireld, the former Tottenham centre half, also had his Belgian home burgled recently.
“Everything was turned upside down, so it is not yet entirely clear what the exact disadvantage is. But at first glance it appears that mainly jewellery has been stolen," an official from the local prosecutors’ office said.
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“The investigation into what exactly happened is still ongoing. The forensic laboratory has already arrived on site for a trace investigation and a camera and neighbourhood investigation will follow. It is therefore not yet clear who the perpetrators are.”
De Bruyne has not featured for City since the opening night of the Premier League season when he re-injured the hamstring that affected him in the final weeks of their Treble win last season.
But he has been named in the squad for the Club World Cup and is nearing a return. City face Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals tomorrow evening with the winner taking on Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense or Al Ahly, of Egypt, in the Saturday’s final.
Head coach Pep Guardiola said: “We love to go to play in the Club World Cup. To go there you have to win theChampions League. I'm very pleased and excited to go there to try and win it.
“The Champions League is more important, but to play this tournament that we have never played before, you need to have won it.
“Of course, it's nice. Years ago we could not imagine being there, but we are. Today it's more difficult, but we have to lift the mood. The schedule is what it is, the results are what they are and we have to accept it. But if we don't improve, it's more difficult.