Kevin De Bruyne rejected by La Liga giants amid personal offer to ‘play out wide’ | OneFootball

Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne has seen a personal offer to join one of La Liga’s biggest clubs rejected, despite an additional proposal to ‘play out wide’.

The 33-year-old is currently weighing up his options having been informed by Manchester City decision makers of their verdict concerning his expiring contract, opting not to offer renewed terms to arguably the club’s greatest-ever player.

As such, Kevin De Bruyne will be free to take on a fresh opportunity via a free transfer come the conclusion of his contract at Manchester City, which expires at the end of June and means he will not be making himself available for the forthcoming FIFA Club World Cup.

Earlier this year, there had been a feeling in various quarters that De Bruyne would be taking on Major League Soccer with a number of clubs Stateside interested in his services, competing with suitors in Saudi Arabia.

However, with the Premier League icon favouring a move within European competition amid an ambition to stay within the elite ranks of the sport, there is an understanding that Serie A champions Napoli are the front-runners for his signature.

Although according to a new report from Sport, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Kevin De Bruyne had first offered himself to Barcelona in light of his confirmed pending exit from Manchester City this summer.

It is detailed that the Belgium international, who still firmly believes he can operate at the highest level of European football, was willing to join the La Liga champions on a one-year deal and even ‘play out wide’ under Hansi Flick.

However, it is explained that the German coach is wanting players who can ‘play at a highest level for at least three to four years’, and as such their attentions have been firmly placed on Liverpool’s Luis Diaz as the priority target.

Manchester City themselves are on the verge of an attacking recruit this week, as they close in on a big-money deal for Lyon and France international Rayan Cherki, who is likely to directly replace De Bruyne in the number 10 role.

The 21-year-old will join the likes of Rayan Ait-Nouri and AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders in completing summer transfers to the Etihad Stadium in time to link-up with Pep Guardiola’s squad for the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.

Manchester City will take on three group stage clashes to open up their campaign in the United States in the newly-expanded and rebranded tournament, as they take on Wydad AC of Morocco, Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates, and Juventus of Italy.