Aston Villa are reportedly holding internal discussions regarding a potential transfer for Kevin De Bruyne, the high-profile Manchester City player who is set to depart the club.
De Bruyne, aged 33, announced on social media that the current season would be his last at City, confirming he will leave as a free agent in June after a decade at the Etihad Stadium.
According to reports from Sky Sports, Villa is exploring the possibility of the playmaker remaining in the Premier League.
The Belgian international is hesitant about relocating his family from the UK, which has attracted interest from other Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa.
However, Unai Emery`s team faces significant competition for De Bruyne`s signature.
Four MLS teams – Inter Miami, Chicago Fire, NYCFC, and D.C. United – have reportedly made enquiries about his professional and financial expectations.
In addition to MLS interest, Italian Serie A side Como is also looking into the possibility of keeping the former Wolfsburg star in Europe.
Cesc Fabregas` team is reportedly checking to see if acquiring the attacking midfielder this summer is feasible.
Earlier reports indicated that Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo had urged his Saudi Arabian club to make a compelling offer to the former Chelsea player.
De Bruyne is widely considered one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, boasting an impressive record of 107 goals and 177 assists in 417 appearances for Manchester City.
During his tenure at City, the former Genk player amassed a remarkable trophy collection, including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, and the 2023 Champions League, completing a historic Treble.
Despite his immense success at the Etihad, it has been revealed that the decision not to extend his contract was made by the club, rather than the player himself.
The iconic number 10 stated after City`s 2-0 victory over Everton that the club`s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, and CEO, Ferran Soriano, informed him in a short meeting that his contract would not be renewed.
De Bruyne commented: “It was a bit of a shock. I hadn`t received any contract offer throughout the year, and the club made their decision.”
He added: “Naturally, I was somewhat surprised, but I must accept it. Frankly, I believe I can still perform at this level, as I am demonstrating, but I recognize that clubs need to make decisions.”
De Bruyne`s Reaction to Departure
It is understood that manager Pep Guardiola was part of the decision-making process, although he was not present at the meeting where De Bruyne was informed.
The Belgian player mentioned that he found the period between being informed and announcing his departure publicly via social media quite difficult.
De Bruyne elaborated: “The half-week before I made the announcement was not pleasant. My family wasn`t home; they were on holiday, which felt a bit strange, but that`s how it is.”
He continued: “Once the decision was final and I announced it, sharing it with the outside world felt more like a relief compared to when I knew but no one else did.”
“Dealing with the emotions and interacting at the club when only I knew was challenging. Now that it`s public, it`s okay, and people see me for who I am. I focus on doing my best and winning games for the team. I simply love playing football.”
Marcus Bellamy