Kevin De Bruyne’s Position on Potential Manchester City Departure Amid Commencement of ‘Transfer Meetings’
Kevin De Bruyne’s Potential Manchester City Exit as Saudi Transfer Discussions Begin
Kevin De Bruyne’s future at Manchester City is under scrutiny as his representatives reportedly engaged in discussions with 10 Saudi Arabian clubs during a recent business trip to the Middle East.
Saudi Arabian Interest in De Bruyne
Multiple Saudi clubs have shown a keen interest in acquiring Manchester City’s star midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne. Despite the allure of a lucrative move, the 32-year-old Belgian remains hesitant about joining the Saudi Pro League. Al Hilal, in particular, has identified De Bruyne as a prime target and is actively trying to persuade him to make the switch. Roc Nation Sports, which represents prominent footballers like Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Martinelli, and Lucas Paqueta, sent top agents Alan Redmond and Renato Martinez to meet with top Saudi clubs, including reigning champions Al Hilal, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, and Al-Ittihad, during a three-day business trip.
De Bruyne’s Contract Situation
Despite these discussions, De Bruyne is still expected to renew his contract with Manchester City before eventually moving to Major League Soccer (MLS), which is his preferred next destination. San Diego FC has already begun preliminary talks with Manchester City to express their interest in a future transfer, according to reports from the Mirror.
Guardiola’s Response
When questioned about the Saudi interest in De Bruyne, City manager Pep Guardiola commented: “It’s a question for him. I would love that he stays, but I don’t know. I hear some links, but I don’t know if he has an offer. I don’t know if Saudi Arabia wants him, I don’t know. I would love for him to stay here, of course. But everyone has their own decisions to make.”
Interest in Other City Players
In addition to De Bruyne, other Manchester City players such as Ederson and Bernardo Silva are also attracting attention from top Saudi clubs. After a summer where Saudi clubs spent £701.3 million on transfers, goalkeeper Ederson’s future at City might be uncertain, with Al-Ittihad reportedly preparing an initial offer. Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva, despite interest from PSG, remains focused on a potential move to Barcelona.
Last year, Bernardo Silva declined a lucrative contract offer from Al Hilal, choosing instead to sign a new deal with Manchester City that includes a £50 million release clause. Reflecting on his decision, he said in an RTP interview: “I would lie if I said I didn’t think about it [Saudi Arabia]. What interested me was the excitement of playing in a UEFA Champions League semi-final, hearing the [Etihad] stadium erupt after scoring against Real Madrid in the semi-finals or when we won the final against Inter Milan. I didn’t want to miss out on that.”
