Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has caused a stir by leaving the door open for a lucrative transfer to the Saudi Pro League. Former Liverpool star Graeme Souness, who himself left Liverpool for a financially motivated move to Italy, believes De Bruyne should prioritize the money while he can.
De Bruyne, approaching 33 and with his contract expiring next year, faces a decision about his future. The massive financial offers from Saudi Arabia are undoubtedly tempting. Souness, recalling his own decision to leave Liverpool in 1984, confessed, “I was guilty of leaving for money… I was very honest about that.”
However, Souness goes beyond just the financial aspect. He highlights De Bruyne’s recent injury struggles. Suggesting the physical demands of the Premier League might become more challenging as he ages. “In the past two years he’s missed something like 39 games,” Souness noted, referencing reports from the Liverpool Echo. “That’ll only get worse as well with age.”
Souness, drawing on his own experience, described a moment of realization about his limitations. “There was a black and white moment towards the end of my career… I thought, ‘did that just happen?'” He believes De Bruyne, who has already achieved immense success with City, has the right to consider a less physically demanding league.
Souness extends this perspective to other superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, defending their moves to less competitive leagues. “They’ve earned their stripes,” he said. Whether De Bruyne chooses Saudi Arabia or another destination, Souness seems to endorse prioritizing comfort and family life at this stage of a player’s career.
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