Kevin De Bruyne stirred up quite the transfer buzz when he hinted he might consider leaving Manchester City this summer. Now that no move materialized, the Belgian star says he’s ready to discuss a new contract.
De Bruyne took the opportunity to clear the air on Saturday, addressing the swirling rumors: “I haven’t spoken to anyone, to be honest. There’s been a lot of noise and news, but I’ve not entertained or spoken to anybody.”
These words are a relief for Manchester City fans, who were on edge during the summer after De Bruyne admitted that an “absurd” offer from Saudi Arabia might tempt him to leave. With just one year left on his contract, there were some tense moments when it seemed the Blues could lose their talisman, who is arguably their greatest-ever player.
At the start of the summer, De Bruyne made some eyebrow-raising comments: “I still have one year left on my contract, so I have to think about what could happen. At my age, you have to be open to everything. You’re talking about incredible amounts of money, especially as it could be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.”
These remarks sent shockwaves through the fanbase until De Bruyne later offered some clarification, albeit not entirely reassuring. In July, he confirmed, “Yes [I’ll stay at City]. I’ve read a lot of headlines about a transfer, but I haven’t spoken to anyone… We will be sitting around the table in the coming months.”
He added a note of caution, though: “I have more than enough money. But if an absurd amount comes… that is also for my family, my relatives, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, and my friends.”
Pep Guardiola tried to put the rumors to rest by declaring in his first press conference of the summer that “Kevin isn’t leaving,” but later hedged his statement, allowing a bit of doubt to linger.
Now that the transfer window has closed and De Bruyne remains at City, what comes next?
The Belgian has started the season in fine form, wearing the captain’s armband in Kyle Walker’s absence and surprising even himself with how well he’s playing. After another stellar performance against West Ham, De Bruyne took the chance to share his side of the story regarding the Saudi Arabia rumors and his expectations for upcoming contract talks with City.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone, to be honest,” he reiterated. “There was a lot of noise over the summer, but I had a quiet time, spent four weeks on holiday, came back, and started training. That was it. Nothing more to say. I wasn’t entertained by anyone or in talks with anyone. I just wanted to relax, and when nothing happened, I returned to training.”
This laid-back yet straightforward attitude is typical of De Bruyne. His candid acknowledgment of the financial lure from the Saudi Pro League reflects what many players likely think. Still, he insists he’s content with everything he has at City.
As for the future, De Bruyne’s contract runs out in June, and no talks of an extension have taken place yet. With his 34th birthday approaching, the next contract would likely be his last. Despite his high performance levels, he’s nearing the end of his career, and injuries sidelined him for half of last season.
“I just want to start well and play football,” he said. “I’m sure there will be conversations with City as the season progresses. I don’t feel rushed at the moment.”
When asked about his priorities in contract negotiations, he responded, “Family is obviously an important factor in whatever happens. It’s hard to talk hypothetically because there are things you want as a family, as a person, as part of a project. But when nothing is certain, there’s not much I can say.”
His mention of “a project” raises interesting questions about what more De Bruyne could achieve at City, or where else he might find a setup as ideal for his talents.
He continued, “I appreciate the time and effort from the team, players, and club that help me perform at this level. I try to help the team, and it’s a mutual effort.”
As always, De Bruyne provides just enough information to keep us intrigued, while leaving plenty of questions unanswered. What’s clear is that he’s perfectly calm about his future after a summer of unexpected speculation—and he’s already looking close to his best, even at this early stage of the season.
