- The Manchester City captain could also sign an extension and retire at the Etihad
- The midfielder is thinking about the future as his contract expires in 2025
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Kevin De Bruyne has been linked with an MLS move before his current contract with Manchester City expires, as it has emerged that the Belgian would prefer a move to the United States over the Saudi Pro-League.
According to The Athleticsthe 32-year-old midfielder is starting to think about what the next step is when his contract with Etihad expires in 2025. In previous years, as evidenced by Ilkay Gundogan, the Manchester club were particularly hesitant to spend money. contract extension for players who are already in their mid-thirties or will soon be almost thirty.
According to the report, City would let go of their star captain if a bid of around $115 million (£90 million at current rates) came from Saudi Arabia.
But De Bruyne, who was offered around $75.7 million a year (£59.7 million, €70 million) to make the move last year, has made it clear that no amount of astronomical sums could divert his attention from his preferred retirement destination .
What’s more is that there is still the possibility of De Bruyne staying and signing a new contract with City, as this would see him retire from the Citizens around the age of 35.
Kevin De Bruyne, 32, has two years left on his contract with Manchester City, which expires in 2025
Pep Guardiola recently stressed that he would like to see De Bruyne, his captain, retire from the club
However, there have been no discussions about that possibility yet, with 18 months to go before the player becomes a free agent.
De Bruyne could therefore be inspired by Lionel Messi’s current role at Inter Miami – a club with which he has already won a trophy in less than two seasons: the Leagues Cup.
If City’s number 17 were to move to the United States, he could try to sign a similar contract to Messi’s, where he will earn $150 million over two seasons, the newspaper said. Goal.
Yet Saudi Arabia’s determination to sign De Bruyne remains steadfast, especially considering Michael Emenalo is the league’s sporting director. Emenalo was behind the transfer of De Bruyne from Genk to Chelsea in 2012. The player was only twenty at the time.
City showed they can keep their long-term staff at the club by signing Kyle Walker to a new contract this summer after the right-back was on the verge of signing for Bayern Munich.
De Bruyne could follow Lionel Messi, who has been taking the MLS by storm in the US since July last year
It is well documented that Manchester City are reluctant to give contract extensions to players in their mid-30s, as evidenced by Ilkay Gundogan.
Manchester City also signed Frank Lampard in 2014 at the age of 36, despite the former Chelsea midfielder being at the end of his career. He scored eight goals in 38 appearances, the most famous of which was a late equalizer against his former club in a 1–1 draw.
City manager Pep Guardiola previously stressed that he wants De Bruyne to end his career in Manchester, despite his captain being strongly linked with a move abroad.
According to ESPNWhen asked about speculation about De Bruyne, the Catalan said: ‘It’s a question for him, I would like him to stay but I don’t know.
“I’ve heard some links, but I don’t know if there’s an offer, I don’t know if Saudi Arabia wants him. I would like him to stay until the end of his career, but everyone is everyone.’