Kevin De Bruyne has refused to rule out staying in the Premier League once he leaves Manchester City at the end of the season, saying he is “open for anything”.
The Belgium international announced earlier this month that he will leave City after a decade at the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.
The Athletic reported this week that four MLS teams — Inter Miami, the Chicago Fire, NYCFC and D.C. United — had all expressed an interest in signing De Bruyne.
The 33-year-old is one of the most decorated active players in the Premier League, having won 19 trophies at City and contributed 189 goals in his 10 seasons at the club.
When asked on Saturday if he would consider remaining in the Premier League after leaving City this summer, De Bruyne told reporters: “I’m open for anything, anything, just for because I have to look at the whole picture.
De Bruyne added: “I’m looking at sporting, family, everything together, what makes the most sense for me and my family. I don’t know what that is, because it depends on when you speak to people and what they say about projects or something, like I said, I still feel like I can play at a good level, but then after I’ll have to make a decision once I really know a little bit more.”
Reflecting on his upcoming departure, De Bruyne said: “I have not had any offer the whole year, they (City) just took a decision.
“Obviously, I was a bit surprised but I just have to accept it. It’s fine. Honestly, I still think I can perform at this level like I’m showing. I understand clubs have to make decisions.”
The former Chelsea and Wolfsburg playmaker believes that his exit from City may have been influenced by the club’s downturn in form this season — they have not been involved in the Premier League title race for some months and dropped out of the Champions League at the play-off stage.
“Probably, yeah,” De Bruyne said if City’s struggles would be temporary. “It’s also basically why they’ve made the decision, because the whole team have struggled.
“Maybe if the team didn’t struggle and I came back like I did this year and bedded in like normal then maybe they take another decision. I don’t know — they told me what the decision was and I can’t say what they think on the inside.
“I still think I’m in good shape, I played way more than I did last year, except the hernia. I feel good and the rhythm is coming.”
(Jan Kruger/Getty Images)