Kevin De Bruyne has acknowledged that the lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia might be hard to resist as he nears the end of his tenure with Manchester City.
Approaching his 33rd birthday in June and entering the final year of his contract with City, De Bruyne has become a top target for clubs in the Saudi Pro League, alongside Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, De Bruyne admitted that he is contemplating his future beyond Manchester City. He disclosed that his wife, Michele, has already given her consent for the family to move abroad, making the idea of an overseas adventure more appealing.
“For Michele, an exotic adventure is okay,” De Bruyne explained. “These are also conversations that we are increasingly having as a family.
I still have one year left on my contract, so I have to think about what could happen. My eldest child 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.”
When pressed specifically about the interest from Saudi Arabia, De Bruyne did not dismiss the possibility. “At my age, you have to be open to everything,” he admitted. “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 and I may not even reach that amount yet. You have to think about what that could mean next. But at the moment I haven’t had to think about that yet.”
Sources from 90min indicate that Manchester City is keen to extend De Bruyne’s contract, with manager Pep Guardiola personally encouraging the Belgian midfielder to stay with the club until the end of his career.
However, the prospect of securing a substantial financial deal in Saudi Arabia could influence De Bruyne’s decision-making process.
As De Bruyne weighs his options, the decision will likely hinge on several factors, including his family’s readiness for an international move and the financial benefits of joining a Saudi Pro League team.
With his son growing up and beginning to understand the significance of his father’s career, De Bruyne’s considerations will also include the impact of such a move on his family’s lifestyle and future.
