Frankly, nobody really thought he`d leave without making a statement, did they?
Having been such a prominent figure at the Etihad for ten years, his departure wouldn`t be a quiet affair come the final curtain call.
While Kevin De Bruyne has avoided off-field controversies, his genius on the pitch has consistently created headlines for Man City.
Take Friday night, for instance, where he became the only player alongside Lionel Messi to achieve 250 goal contributions under Pep Guardiola`s management.
So, an evening that began with fans shocked by Pep`s hint he might leave when his contract ends, finished with attention focused on a player whose departure is certain.
Admittedly, it`s not his decision. De Bruyne`s ten-year tenure as an Etihad favourite is concluding because his manager chose not to offer him a contract extension.
But the growing realisation for fans who adore the Belgian – so much they predict he`ll get a statue – is that his time at the club is nearing its end.
And De Bruyne, in what was effectively his second-to-last game at the stadium he`s called home since 2015, is certainly embodying the saying “always leave them wanting more.”
Just weeks prior, he delivered a stellar performance against FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace, scoring once and assisting three times in a dominant five-goal victory.
Against Wolves, he scored the opening goal with a deliberate side-footed shot – albeit slightly mis-hit – breaking the deadlock in a sluggish match.
He was the standout performer in an otherwise uninspired showing from Guardiola`s team, who are now striving to secure a top-five spot in what feels like a series of must-win games.
To be fair, there was little indication they would break through until De Bruyne struck ten minutes before halftime, during a period where City struggled to create chances.
Fans who delayed their entry for the first six minutes, protesting the lack of new season tickets, didn`t miss any significant action.
There were no thrilling attacks from the reigning champions, a team now uncertain of securing a Champions League qualification spot.
In fact, the first real chance should have put Wolves in front when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde broke the offside trap just inside City`s half.
He had a shooting opportunity but chose the seemingly safer option of passing to Marshall Munetsi for a simple finish into an open net.
Or so it seemed. However, Bellegarde`s pass was too strong, and even a fully stretched Munetsi couldn`t reach it, letting the chance slip away.
Did this missed opportunity spur City on? It did lead to another near miss, but again, it was created by those in old gold, not sky blue.
Matheus Cunha might be playing regularly in Manchester next season if United significantly invest to make him their desired major summer signing.
But he offered a preview of his potential with an angled run into the penalty area that resulted in the ball landing favourably for Rayan Ait-Nouri.
The Algerian’s initial shot hit the post, and his follow-up from the rebound was heading goalwards before Josko Gvardiol cleared it off the line.
Finally, stumbling City finally found some pace, and Nico O`Reilly tested Jose Sa with a fierce shot.
And then, 35 minutes in, came the breakthrough everyone hoped for…from the goalscorer they all prayed it would be.
Jeremy Doku’s quick run took him to the goal line, where he deliberately cut the ball back for the midfield maestro.
De Bruyne has certainly scored more cleanly hit goals during his time as an Etihad darling, but this shot, despite bouncing first, still went in. Almost a scrappy goal, you could say.
Nevertheless, all goals count and after a first half that was hardly blow-your-socks off impressive, City were quite happy to take it.
Not that it ever looked like opening floodgates, or anything remotely close. There were still too many close calls for that.
The most notable scare was Cunha’s out-of-the-blue snapshot that rattled an upright.
Ultimately, though, City held on as their fans showed Guardiola what they thought of him by belting out his name louder and longer than ever in the closing stages.
Mind you, nothing like the ear-splitting ovation they gave to De Bruyne when he took his bow five minutes from the end.
And rightly so. It was clear to everyone who had once again rescued them from a difficult situation.
