Manchester City star set to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia as SPL clubs step up transfer interest: Reports
Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne reportedly looks set to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League (SPL), with clubs in the Gulf stepping up their transfer interest. The Belgian international has drawn serious attention from Saudi Arabia in recent months, and despite his club deciding against a move, they still have their eyes on him.
Back in the summer, Manchester City rejected any offers from the Gulf state, especially from Al-Ittihad, who actively pushed to sign him. However, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) have remained aggressive in making moves for European players, and they will look to convince him once more.
According to reports from the Middle East (via ysscores.com), the PIF are looking to include De Bruyne to their list of talents in Saudi Arabia. So far, they have signed superstars like Neymar Jr, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, and others, following Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr in January 2023.
Questions about De Bruyne's future at Manchester City have been raised due to his consistent injury concerns. This season, he has had a hamstring muscle injury, missing 10 games for the Cityzens. This injury also affected him last season, where he missed a total of 35 games for club and country.
Manchester City did not want to sell him last summer. However, if his injury concerns persist, they may be forced to revisit the conversation about his future at the end of the season. With the strong interest building up on the Saudi end, Kevin De Bruyne could potentially join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf region next year.
When Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne picked between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
In 2023, Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne made his pick between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. There has been a longstanding debate about who the best player in the world is, with players and pundits making their choice between the legendary duo.
For De Bruyne, who has played against the two legends in his career, the pick is Ronaldo. The playmaker explained (via SPORTbible):
"I would probably say Ronaldo because he’s more of a typical striker. Messi is still more of a playmaker. I am a playmaker, you can give me a striker."
Indeed, both Kevin De Bruyne and Lionel Messi are widely popular for their playmaking abilities. The Belgian international has racked up 255 assists in 619 games in his club career. The Argentine legend, on the other hand, has provided a remarkable 357 assists in 914 games across his own club career.