Kevin De Bruyne transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad.
Kevin De Bruyne transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad.
The English newspaper reports that De Bruyne and Benzema have agreed on a transfer deal. The 33-year-old player has a contract until mid-2025, but it’s unlikely that Manchester City will make it difficult for him to leave the Etihad. Kevin De Bruyne is close to finalizing his move to Saudi Arabia. He is still under contract with Manchester City but has accepted the offer from Karim Benzema’s club and is just waiting for the final agreement between the teams, according to the English newspaper Daily Mail. De Bruyne’s contract with City runs until mid-2025, after nine seasons with the English team. Guardiola’s club is unlikely to block the deal for fear of losing the star for free at the end of his contract.
De Bruyne is contemplating a move to Saudi Arabia: “I need to think about my future.”
In June, De Bruyne said he was considering offers from Saudi Arabia, especially given his age. The 33-year-old only played 26 matches last season after a thigh injury in August sidelined him for four months.
— At my age, you have to consider all possibilities. There’s talk of incredible sums in the final stage of my career. For my wife, the unusual adventure would be good. I have to think about my future. If I play in Saudi Arabia for two years, I’ll earn more than I have in 15 years of my career. De Bruyne said in an interview with the Belgian newspaper HLN: “I have to think about what that could mean.” The Manchester City star recently participated in Euro 2024 as a starter. He is one of the key players for Belgium, which was knocked out of the tournament in the round of 16 by France with a 1-0 score.
Benzema requests to leave Al-Ittihad, according to the agency.
If the deal goes through, De Bruyne will be teammates with Karim Benzema. The French star arrived in Saudi Arabia in June 2023 and has had a tense relationship with the club. At the end of last year, the forward threatened to leave the team after facing heavy criticism from fans, especially since he cost the team dearly with poor performance.
The club is currently undergoing a team renovation, including a new coach, in an attempt to ensure Benzema stays. Al-Ittihad announced Laurent Blanc, the former Paris Saint-Germain and French national team coach, as their new manager after sacking Marcelo Gallardo, who had requested the French striker’s departure.
