"For a ridiculous amount of money, for my family"
English Premier League (EPL) midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has once again weighed in on the Saudi Arabia rumors.
European soccer transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano shared an interview the midfielder gave to Belgian media outlet HLN on his personal social media account on Jan. 1 (ET).
When asked about staying at Man City, he said, "Staying at Man City? Yes. I've read a lot about the Saudi transfer, but I haven't spoken to anyone. If there is a good offer and I tell Pep Guardiola that I want to leave, then the transfer is possible," he said, adding that he could leave for Saudi Arabia whenever he wants.
"But I've never said that I want to leave," he added, emphasizing that he hasn't made an immediate decision.
While he dismissed the transfer speculation, Dubravljani did not close the door on a move to Saudi Arabia. "If I'm offered a ridiculous amount of money, it's for my family, my relatives, my grandchildren, my friends," he said, suggesting that a huge offer might be something he would choose for the sake of those around him.
This is not the first time he has spoken about a move to Saudi Arabia. In June, he said: "I have one year left on my contract, so I have to think about what will happen. At my age, you have to be open to everything. People are talking about a lot of 야설 money that could be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that," he said, adding that he couldn't help but think about the huge offer from Saudi Arabia.
"If I play for Saudi Arabia for two years, I could make a lot of money, but maybe I played football for 15 years before that and haven't reached that amount yet. Then you have to think about what it means. But now I have a year to go, so I don't have to think about it yet," he said, noting that while he will remain at City until next season when his contract is fulfilled, he would earn a huge amount of money if he accepted the Saudi offer.
Indeed, European soccer stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and others have opted to play in Saudi Arabia and earn huge salaries. While Dubravljevic is of course well paid at Man City, the amount of money available in Saudi Arabia far exceeds that of Europe.
The club are keen to keep him at the club for as long as possible, as they said in the winter transfer window. His contract with City expires in the summer of 2025. That's about 18 months away. City reportedly want to extend his contract for another year. However, there have been reports that Al Nasr and Al Hilal are keeping tabs on Dubravka, along with Mohamed Salah, and a move to Saudi Arabia has been suggested.
It would be a huge shock to City fans if he left the club and headed to Saudi Arabia this summer. The midfielder was still City's most iconic midfielder in the 2023-2024 season and a mainstay of the team. One of the most dominant players in the English Premier League (EPL), he missed time with injury this season, but since returning, he has led the team to a resurgence, helping City win their fourth straight league title.
Some EPL stars, including Son Heung-min, have said they'd turn down a hefty offer from the Saudis. However, Dubravljevic has opened the door to the possibility, saying it's simply not an option. It will be interesting to see if he accepts the Saudi offer this summer and beyond.
Comments