Kevin De Bruyne to Leave Manchester City at the End of Current Season and Join Ronaldo at Al Nassr

By Indian Display | April 5, 2025 |

The football world is buzzing with a seismic shift on the horizon: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City’s midfield maestro, is reportedly set to depart the Etihad at the end of the 2024-25 season and link up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Pro League giants Al Nassr. As the Belgian’s contract ticks down to its June 2025 expiration, whispers of this blockbuster move have morphed into a roar, fueled by Ronaldo’s personal push and Al Nassr’s jaw-dropping financial muscle. If it comes to pass, this transfer could mark the end of an era for City—and the start of a tantalizing new chapter in the Middle East.

The End of a City Legend

De Bruyne’s tenure at Manchester City has been nothing short of legendary. Since arriving from Wolfsburg in 2015 for £54 million—a fee that raised eyebrows at the time—he’s rewritten the Premier League’s playbook. Six league titles, a Champions League crown, two FA Cups, five League Cups, and a stat line of 103 goals and 171 assists in 388 appearances tell only part of the story. The real tale is in the vision: those inch-perfect passes, the way he bends games to his will, the quiet brilliance that’s made him Pep Guardiola’s linchpin.

But time spares no one. At 33, De Bruyne’s battled nagging injuries—hamstrings, mostly—missing 41 games last season and six already this term by April 2025. City’s board, per chatter online, is hesitant to extend his £400,000-a-week deal, eyeing a transition to younger blood. Rodri’s knee injury has only sharpened that focus, with names like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz floating as heirs apparent. Guardiola, ever the pragmatist, might love another year with his Belgian genius, but the club’s long-term lens seems fixed elsewhere.

Enter Al Nassr. The Saudi club, backed by oil-rich ambition, has been circling De Bruyne like a hawk since 2023. Posts on X and reports from outlets like TEAMtalk peg them as “confident” of landing him, with Ronaldo—Al Nassr’s talisman—leading the charge. The pitch? A mind-blowing £1 million per week, dwarfing his City wage, plus a £50 million signing bonus. For a player who’s won it all in Europe, that’s not just a paycheck—it’s a golden parachute.

Ronaldo’s Recruitment Drive

Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t just a striker at Al Nassr; he’s a one-man transfer committee. Since landing in Riyadh in December 2022, he’s flexed his pull—Otavio from Porto, Alex Telles from Manchester United, even nudging for Sadio Mané. Now, at 40, he’s gunning for the ultimate coup: pairing his relentless goal hunger with De Bruyne’s creative wizardry. Imagine it—Ronaldo lurking in the box, De Bruyne threading lasers from midfield. It’s the kind of duo that could turn the Saudi Pro League into must-watch TV.

Posts on X from early April 2025—like one claiming “De Bruyne to Al Nassr: It’s done” via Gazzetta—hint the deal’s gaining steam. Ronaldo’s influence is key. Sources say he’s told Al Nassr’s brass to “make an offer he can’t refuse,” a line straight out of The Godfather. At £1 million weekly, it’s hard to argue. Ronaldo’s own £3.4 million-a-week deal sets the bar, but De Bruyne’s payday would still rank among football’s elite, outpacing Erling Haaland’s £375,000 at City.

For Ronaldo, it’s more than assists—he’s chasing silverware. Al Nassr’s yet to win the Saudi title since his arrival, and at 40, time’s ticking. De Bruyne, with his trophy-laden CV, could be the missing piece. The Belgian’s 31 assists in the 2022-23 Premier League season alone show what he’d bring: a playmaker who’d feed Ronaldo’s scoring machine like it’s on a conveyor belt.

Why Now? The Perfect Storm

De Bruyne’s exit makes sense in 2025. He’s done it all at City—six Premier League crowns, a treble in 2023, you name it. At 34 by next summer, the physical toll of England’s grind might not outweigh the allure of a cushier league and a fat check. He’s hinted at openness to Saudi Arabia before, telling HLN last summer, “At my age, you have to be open to everything.” His wife, Michele Lacroix, reportedly loves “exotic adventures”—Saudi fits the bill.

City’s shifting priorities play in too. Rodri’s injury has exposed midfield depth issues, but the club’s eyeing youth over veterans. De Bruyne’s injury spells—six games out by April 2025—don’t help his case, even if his on-field magic still dazzles. Guardiola’s own future’s murky—his contract’s up in 2025 too—adding uncertainty. If Pep stays, he might fight for De Bruyne; if he goes, the Belgian’s exit feels inevitable.

Al Nassr’s timing’s spot-on. De Bruyne’s a free agent in June 2025, meaning no transfer fee—just a signing bonus and wages. For a club with Saudi Arabia’s bottomless pockets, that’s a steal. The MLS, namely San Diego FC, has sniffed around, but Saudi’s cash and Ronaldo’s pull might trump America’s appeal.

The Ripple Effect

If De Bruyne lands in Riyadh, the Saudi Pro League gets a shot of credibility. Neymar’s at Al Hilal, Benzema’s at Al Ittihad, but De Bruyne—arguably the world’s best midfielder in his prime—raises the bar. Pair him with Ronaldo, and you’ve got a marquee duo that could rival Europe’s elite, at least in hype. For Al Nassr, it’s a title tilt; for the league, it’s a global flex.

Back at City, it’s a gut punch. Replacing De Bruyne’s vision isn’t like swapping out a tire—his 171 assists are a testament to a rare gift. Haaland might sulk without those pinpoint feeds, and City’s attack could stutter as they bed in a newbie. But it’s also a chance—fresh legs, fresh ideas. Musiala or Wirtz could redefine City’s midfield, keeping them atop England’s heap.

For fans in Guwahati—or anywhere—this is football’s new reality: stars chasing sunsets in the desert. It’s not just money; it’s legacy, lifestyle, and a softer landing after Europe’s grind. De Bruyne’s not said “yes” publicly, but the silence is deafening—his camp’s reportedly been “sounded out” since 2023, per The Sun.

What’s Next?

By April 2025, we’re nine games into the Premier League season. De Bruyne’s likely back from his latest knock, pulling strings as City chase another title. But come January, he can talk to foreign clubs—Al Nassr will be first in line. If he signs a pre-contract, it’s a done deal by summer; if City push for an extension, we’ve got a saga.

Ronaldo’s waiting, arms open, in Riyadh. Al Nassr’s got the cash, the vision, and the star power. De Bruyne’s got a choice: one more hurrah in Manchester or a golden ticket to Saudi. Posts on X are split—some see it as “done,” others as “speculation”—but the momentum’s tilting east.

For now, watch him at City. Every pass, every goal, might be a farewell. By June 2025, we could see De Bruyne in yellow and blue, feeding Ronaldo under Saudi skies. Football’s wild ride never stops.