City Xtra
·30 de enero de 2025
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsCity Xtra
·30 de enero de 2025
Kevin De Bruyne will be handed the opportunity to not only decide his own future at Manchester City, but also do so without any pressure from the club.
That is according to new reports detailing the future of the Belgium international, who has been free to speak with interested parties over a free transfer at the end of the ongoing season since the start of the year.
De Bruyne has battled with yet another injury problem during the ongoing campaign, but has since fought back to recover sufficiently and continues to be a key part of Pep Guardiola’s system in the biggest of matches.
The veteran midfielder looks sharper than ever in the eyes of many, and ahead of a summer transfer window that is likely to feature significant change in the way of playing personnel, De Bruyne could yet be one of those alterations.
However, Manchester City themselves remain open to the idea of retaining the attacking midfielder into a 10th season with the club, and it appears as though that willingness to sign a new contract is shared by the player himself.
According to the information of MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, Manchester City will allow club captain Kevin De Bruyne to determine his own future at the Etihad Stadium having entered into the final five months of his existing contractual agreement.
It is revealed that the Belgian playmaker is currently open to extending his stay at Manchester City through a new deal, which would take the 33-year-old beyond the decade mark having joined from VfL Wolfsburg in the summer of 2015.
From a personal perspective, the report points out that De Bruyne is settled alongside his young family in the North West of England, and continues to ‘enjoy’ working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Decision makers within the Premier League champions are reportedly ‘happy’ for De Bruyne to take his time on deciding next steps within the game, and are certainly not rushing him into a firm decision.
Additional reporting from The Times’ Paul Hirst points out that De Bruyne is happy to remain at Manchester City and will speak to the club about the possibility of extending his stay, although no immediate talks are planned and all parties are relaxed about the situation.
The Times also reports that the happiness of De Bruyne’s family will weigh heavily on the decision he makes, while the midfielder himself holds an intention to play for Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Manchester City are expected to be busy in the upcoming summer transfer window both in the way of first-team arrivals into the club, and a number of departures from a squad that Pep Guardiola himself has pointed out to be ageing.
While De Bruyne could yet be one of those exiting the side after a stellar career with Manchester City, there will undoubtedly be concerns within the club over the risk of letting too many senior faces and names with experience leave at one go.
The futures of Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan both remain in some element of doubt, while there could yet be reviews to the futures of Mateo Kovacic, Ederson, John Stones, and Jack Grealish across the squad.