Kevin De Bruyne only has one club in mind and he’s told them he’ll take a pay cut

Manchester City are going through major changes as this disappointing season comes to an end. The club faces two very different situations: star striker Erling Haaland is coming back from injury, while midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne is counting down his final days at the club, with many top teams wanting to sign him.

These opposite situations show how things are changing at City. After winning four Premier League titles in a row before this season’s letdown, City must now get their goal-scorer back into the team while also preparing for life without the Belgian playmaker who has been key to their success for nearly ten years.

Haaland Ready to Return

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said yesterday that Erling Haaland is ready to play again this weekend. The Norwegian goal-scorer has been out since hurting his ankle in March during City’s FA Cup game against Bournemouth, but his return comes at an important time as the club enters the final games of their season.

“He is ready, he is fit,” Guardiola said before Saturday’s game against Southampton. When asked if Haaland would start the match, Guardiola was careful, saying: “[If he will] start, we will see tomorrow.”

Haaland was on the bench for City’s tight 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend but didn’t play as Guardiola didn’t want to risk his star player. That win, secured by a goal from De Bruyne himself, helped City’s chances of getting into the Champions League next season. City are now third in the Premier League, three points ahead of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest.

This season has brought a big change to European football, with the top five Premier League teams now getting into the Champions League, thanks to England’s better ranking and the competition’s new format. For a big club like Manchester City, not qualifying for Europe’s top competition would be a disaster.

Even after missing almost two months, Haaland is still City’s top scorer this season with 21 goals in 28 Premier League games—the only City player to score ten or more goals in the league. In all competitions, he has scored 30 times in 40 games, with 4 assists too.

These impressive numbers are actually lower than his amazing performances in previous seasons. Since coming to England from Borussia Dortmund in summer 2022, Haaland has broken Premier League scoring records, winning the Golden Boot award in his first two seasons. In his first season, he scored a record 36 goals in 35 games, followed by 29 goals in 30 matches last season.

De Bruyne’s Final Days at City

While City fans look forward to Haaland’s return, they must also prepare to say goodbye to one of the club’s greatest ever players. In April, Kevin De Bruyne confirmed he would leave Manchester City when his contract ends this season, closing a legendary nine-year chapter during which he became one of the Premier League’s best ever midfielders.

“Dear Manchester, Seeing this, you probably realize where this is heading. So I’ll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player,” De Bruyne wrote in an emotional message that shocked the football world.

“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here- and you deserve to hear it from me first.”

His heartfelt message continued: “Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This city. This club. These people gave me everything. I had no choice but to give everything back. And guess what – we won everything. Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye.”

The 33-year-old’s departure marks the end of an era for City. Since joining from Wolfsburg in summer 2015, De Bruyne has played 418 games, scoring 108 goals and creating 177 assists—numbers that only tell part of the story of his huge impact. During his time at City, he has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, three Community Shields, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup, making him possibly the most important player in the club’s history.

Guardiola has been clear about how hard it will be to replace the Belgian star. “I want the best for Kevin so it cannot be possible to have done these many years without him. He has been an incredible player, but the situation is what it is,” the Spaniard said after City beat Wolves.

“It’s almost impossible to replace this kind of player. It is not just the performance, it is what he means to the heart for our fans for many, many years. The success we have belongs to the players.”

Who Will Sign De Bruyne?

Since announcing his departure, De Bruyne has been linked with many possible destinations, with recent reports suggesting several big clubs want to sign him. According to Spanish news outlet Defensa Central, the Belgian has “offered himself” to Real Madrid and is willing to take a pay cut to join the Spanish giants for free.

Real Madrid are known for smart business in the free transfer market, having previously signed stars like Kylian Mbappé, Antonio Rüdiger, and David Alaba without paying transfer fees. With Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold reportedly set to join them this summer, De Bruyne is said to be keen on following him to the Bernabéu.

Reports say that Real have responded “favorably” to De Bruyne’s offer, despite the club’s usual policy of signing younger players. While the midfielder will be 34 by the start of next season, his exceptional vision, passing, and experience make him attractive to any top club.

However, in news that would shock English football, Italian news outlet Di Marzio reported this week that new Premier League champions Liverpool have made a surprise bid to sign De Bruyne. The idea of the Belgian joining City’s big rivals would be especially painful for City fans, despite everything he’s done for their club.

Interestingly, old footage suggests De Bruyne might be open to such a controversial move. During his time at Belgian club Genk, a young De Bruyne once said: “My favorite team is Liverpool FC and my favorite player is Michael Owen. I’d like to play there.” He confirmed this childhood support in a 2019 interview with Match of the Day magazine, saying: “I was a Liverpool fan. My family that live in England were all Liverpool supporters so I was, too.”

In another interview with Sky Sports that same year, De Bruyne said he liked Liverpool’s stadium: “I like Anfield, I like it a lot. I love people being on you, being noisy, that is what it’s all about. I love the passion of football.”

While respected Liverpool journalists have played down reports