LOS ANGELES -- Kevin De Bruyne has defended Manchester City's spending say they needed to buy the best to compete.
City have spent close to £200 million this summer in a huge overhaul of the squad after failing to win any silverware in Pep Guardiola's first season at the club.
Belgium international De Bruyne admits the figure being paid are extraordinary but says that all top clubs are required to spend heavily in the current transfer market for top players.
"It's how the market goes. There's a lot of money [going out] but there's a lot of money going in," De Bruyne told reporters after City's 4-1 win over Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup.