Where will Kevin de Bruyne play next? That seems to be the question on the minds of Manchester City fans as the Belgian becomes a free agent after this season.
The 33-year-old, who started his first match for City in over 2 months on Wednesday since injury, scored and assisted in the 3-nil win against Nottingham Forest in his return.
While the Citizens will likely not issue de Bruyne another contract, the team’s owners, City Football Group, offer him spots at one of their other 11 clubs worldwide.
While Saudi Arabian clubs have also expressed interest, De Bruyne’s family preference appears to lean toward an MLS move, particularly with San Diego FC’s ambitious project. The newest MLS soccer team, which looks to kick off next season, has said to offer him $20 million per season.
However, David Beckham looks to scupper De Bruyne’s west-coast move. The potential acquisition of De Bruyne would follow the transformative pattern set by Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami. No one doubts De the midfielder’s exceptional vision, precise passing range, and goal-scoring ability. Under new Herons boss Javier Mascherano, De Bruyne would assume his normal central role, orchestrating attacks and elevating the overall quality of play.
Inter Miami would have no choice but to win the league if one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever playmakers joined the fray. De Bruyne has racked up 104 goals and 171 assists in his decade-long career in Manchester. At 34, the six-time Premier League winner, two-time FA Cup victor, and Champions League winner still has plenty to offer.
For Beckham, signing de Bruyne would be another coup.
Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City
Stats by Club | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Club | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
Manchester City | 394 | 104 | 171 | 29,229′ |