Fabrizio Romano has provided a transfer update about one of Manchester City’s best players.
The man in question is Kevin De Bruyne — who was reported on Thursday to have verbally agreed a deal to sign for Al-Ittihad this summer.
A few days before this report, the Belgian maestro suggested that he does rule an exit out of the club if an “absurd” offer comes his way. However, De Bruyne did state that his focus remains on staying at City.
Last month, however, the talismanic midfielder also stated that his wife would be open to change of scenery and with the whopping wages Saudi Arabia could offer to players, he suggested that he “open” to the idea of a move to the Middle Eastern country.
Especially when it comes to summer transfers, things change quickly in football.
Fabrizio Romano provides Kevin De Bruyne transfer revelation
De Bruyne has won everything there was to win at the Etihad Stadium and at this point, he is only further cementing his status as one of Manchester City, the Premier League and his generation’s best players.
A fair question to pose would be the driving factor that pushes the the Sky Blues’ number 17 to continue playing at the highest level.
It could range from the six-time Premier League winner’s sheer love for playing in and amongst the very best, his connection to the club, his settled family life in Manchester and other varying factors.
Fabrizio Romano revealed that at this moment in time, De Bruyne is nowhere close to joining Al-Ittihad — pouring cold water on any suggestions that he has agreed any type of a deal with the club as well.
Romano wrote for CaughtOffside: “We’ve had more Kevin De Bruyne Saudi rumours again, with some reports over the weekend about the Manchester City playmaker possibly becoming an Al-Ittihad player but my understanding is that nothing is close or imminent as of today.”
“The situation at Al-Ittihad is really complicated at the moment, and it’s possible that their move to hire Stefano Pioli as manager will collapse, while the president could also leave the club.”
Fabrizio Romano stated that perhaps in the future, there could be a possibility of a move to the Saudi Pro League at least getting closer involving De Bruyne but so far, a transfer to the country is not on the cards — be it to Al-Ittihad or any other club for that matter.
“It’s a confusing situation at the club and so they are not advancing for De Bruyne, as you can imagine. It’s not something happening today, maybe later in the summer, as we know interest from Saudi in De Bruyne has been there for some time but it’s not close to happening now.”
“De Bruyne is now on holiday after the Euros and he still has one year left on his contract at Manchester City. As for Al-Ittihad, we’ll have to see what happens later on in the summer because right now the situation has become very complicated and confusing.”
De Bruyne should still aim to achieve one goal at Man City
Manchester City supporters will be rejoicing at the fact that it does not seem like De Bruyne is headed to Al-Ittihad or Saudi Arabia in general.
After Belgium’s early Round of 16 exit at Euro 2024, the 33-year-old could be raring to head into the 2024/2025 season.
While De Bruyne has ticked every possible box he could have imagined as a Manchester City player, he should be aiming to play the entirety of a Champions League final where he is fit and ends up on the winning side.
Misfortune in the form of injuries have struck the decorated attacker against Chelsea in 2021 and Inter Milan in 2023 but City will be one of the favourites to regain the trophy in the following campaign and in the near future.
Once De Bruyne wins a Champions League title while partaking in a final and possibly having an impact on his side’s triumph, there will be a feeling that justice is served as a modern-day great like him deserves to display his genius in one of the biggest games football has to offer.
