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Manchester City waved goodbye to two modern greats after the Champions League final as Ilkay Gundogan and then Riyad Mahrez departed. The club have been considering how to replace them all summer, but they might now have to think about a succession plan for another player - arguably their best ever.
Kevin De Bruyne was as crucial as any player in City’s run to the treble, but he admitted he had spent the last two months of the season carrying a hamstring injury. In the first half of the Champions League final, that same hamstring snapped. Two months later, 22 minutes into City’s first game of the Premier League season against Burnley, it gave way again.
And now the Belgian could be out for up to four months after Pep Guardiola confirmed he had suffered a "serious injury" and revealed that the club have to decide whether or not he has to undergo surgery. It means that City are likely to be without their most consistent and inspirational player until the start of 2024.
It is a huge blow for City and leaves them with a huge void to fill immediately. But even before City's worst fears were confirmed by Guardiola, they were beginning to realise that De Bruyne's magnificent career is starting to wind down.
The 32-year-old showed last season that he still has plenty to offer, having contributed to 42 goals last season and providing more assists than anyone else in the Premier League. But he is now only set to play half of this season. And even if he returns from injury as good as new, will he be able to play 45 games per season again?
The key to City’s success under Guardiola is their aptitude for forward planning, their ability to think three or four transfer windows ahead. And after enjoying one of the greatest playmakers the Premier League has ever seen for eight years, City must now confront an eventual future without De Bruyne, as well as looking to fill the immediate voids left by Gundogan and Mahrez. So step forward, Lucas Paqueta.