Inter Miami make final decision on Kevin De Bruyne transfer interest | OneFootball

Manchester City supporters are now highly unlikely to see a link-up between Kevin De Bruyne and Lionel Messi over in Major League Soccer from next season.

De Bruyne, 33, has seen interest emerge from the United States after announcing this will be his final season at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City officials decided against offering the Belgium a new deal and he will become a free agent on June 30.

Aston Villa are understood to have held internal talks regarding a possible swoop for the Belgium international, who is assessing offers with a firm belief he retains the ability to keep playing at the highest level once he does leave Manchester City.

Several sides in the Saudi Pro League have held a long-standing interest in the six-time Premier League winner, who however prefers the United States over Saudi Arabia as a destination to settle his family, who have lived in Manchester since 2015.

De Bruyne spoke at length with reporters in the mixed zone after Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Everton in April, relaying a disappointment over the club’s ignorance and him taking the collateral fall in the decision of a new contract following a collective drop-off from the team this season.

City have three Premier League games remaining and are in pole position to qualify in the top five and secure qualification to next season’s UEFA Champions League – with De Bruyne being in fine form of late and leading his side to a strong run of results.

The playmaker has also been courted by David Beckham’s Inter Miami, who have held first rights over negotiations with the former Chelsea and Wolfsburg star in the closing months of his Manchester City tenure.

However, according to a new report from BBC Sport’s Nick Mashiter, Inter Miami have now relinquished their option to hold talks with Kevin De Bruyne, leaving Major League Soccer rivals The Chicago Fire in pole position to sign the Belgian this summer.

It is further reinstated that the Florida-based club had the 33-year-old midfielder on their ‘discovery list’, meaning they were the only MLS team able to negotiate with the player in the United States.

Despite having until mid-July to decide whether to hold talks with the Manchester City captain, the report now states that Inter Miami will not pursue an agreement that could have brought De Bruyne together with the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

It remains to be seen where De Bruyne will play next season with a growing belief that the Belgian will not feature for Manchester City at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States owing to a fear of injury that could hamper him joining his next club.