has talked up the prospect of a move to the Saudi Pro League when his contract comes to end, stating ‘you have to be open to everything’ given ‘the incredible amounts of money’ on offer in the Middle East.
The 32-year-old is widely regarded as one of the finest attacking midfielders of his generation and has written his name into City’s history books over an extraordinary nine-year spell in the north west, helping the club win 16 pieces of silverware.
City’s title triumph this season took De Bruyne’s personal trophy haul to six in the English top flight. However, speculation has been mounting that the Belgium international could soon be set for the exit door at the Etihad.
De Bruyne will enter into the final year of his current deal next month and clubs from the Saudi Pro League are keeping close tabs on the situation as they look to poach the Premier League biggest names, along with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker and Bruno Fernandes.
In response, as they look to block another of their star players jumping ship for the Middle East, in the wake of Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte’s departures.
De Bruyne has, until now, remained tight-lipped amid the rumours surrounding his future but during an interview with , the midfielder dropped the biggest hint yet that he could be open to a fresh challenge in Saudi Arabia in 12 months time.
‘For Michele [Lacroix, De Bruyne’s wife], an exotic adventure is okay. These are also conversations that we are increasingly having as a family,’ De Bruyne told the Belgian publication.
‘I still have one year left on my contract, so I have to think about what could happen.
‘My eldest son is now eight years old and knows nothing but England. He also asks how long I will play for City.
‘Once the moment comes, we will have to deal with it in a certain way.’
While De Bruyne is yet to seriously consider the prospect of leaving City, he knows there is the potential to earn vast amounts of money elsewhere should he decide to move on in a year’s time.
‘At my age you have to be open to everything,’ he added.
‘You’re talking about incredible amounts of money in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.
‘If I play there for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money.
‘Before that I had to play football for 15 years. I may not even reach that amount yet.
‘Then you have to think about what that could mean next. But at the moment I haven’t had to think about that yet.’
Pep Guardiola said he would ‘love’ to see De Bruyne end his playing days with City as rumours swirled linking the Belgian with the Saudi Pro League midway through last season.
‘It’s a question for him, I’d love him to stay but I don’t know,’ the City head coach told reporters in February.
‘I heard some links but I don’t know if there’s an offer, I don’t know if Saudi Arabia wants him.
‘I would love him to stay until the end of his career, but everyone is everyone.’
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