A report from Manchester Evening News suggests that Manchester City might encounter competition from Saudi Arabia to retain star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne next summer. This transfer window has already seen the Sky Blues lose a player to the wealth of the Saudi Pro League. Riyad Mahrez made a £30 million transfer to Al-Ahli, with Pep Guardiola acknowledging that the player was presented with an offer that was too tempting to decline.
De Bruyne’s Impressive Campaign With Manchester City Last Season
De Bruyne had another outstanding season for Manchester City in the previous campaign, scoring seven goals and providing 24 assists in 44 appearances. He was one of the most creative players in the Premier League last season and a threat in the final third.
The Belgium international was pivotal in City’s attacking department as he averaged 2.0 shots, 3.1 key passes and 1.0 dribbles per game in the Premier League. He also excelled in ball distribution after completing 80% of his attempted passes in the English top flight (stats via Whoscored).
Can Guardiola Risk Losing Him?
De Bruyne is one of the world’s best passers, demonstrating an exceptional ability to execute pinpoint passes and masterful long-range deliveries. This proficiency enables him to craft scoring opportunities for his teammates and empowers Man City to maintain a firm grip on possession.
The Belgian sensation’s gift extends to adept passing, dribbling, and finishing. He possesses the capacity to engineer chances seemingly out of thin air, coupled with being a goal-scoring threat. His soccer intelligence is also striking, consistently displaying a keen awareness of his surroundings. Additionally, as a leader, De Bruyne’s qualities shine through; his vocal presence on the field and continuous encouragement of teammates inspire and enhance City’s collective performance.
Should De Bruyne depart from City, the Etihad Club would suffer a substantial setback. He represents their creative nucleus and a cornerstone of leadership. His absence would significantly diminish City’s attacking prowess, impacting their chances of securing trophies and overall cohesion as a team. Hence, Pep Guardiola would need to devise a way to keep hold of him for the years to come.
