Last month, BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague suggested on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues podcast that De Bruyne could retire once his contract ends.
“He’s only 33, but for whatever reason he’s got 20 minutes per game in him, even if he starts games. That’s been recognised by Man City for a while,” said Balague.
“He’s not stupid – the fact City haven’t renewed his contract despite him considering the possibility of staying on is a sign of a player that has reached the top and can’t go back to it any more.”
But Belgian football expert Kristof Terreur disagreed.
“One thing he does have on his mind is the World Cup in 2026,” said Terreur. “He wants to continue playing football, but all the juice is out of his body and he has become very injury prone, he said.
“He will pick a league [to play in] where there is less pressure and games where he might stay fit for the World Cup.”
