Will Kevin De Bruyne (34, Manchester City) play alongside 'God of Football' Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami)? Recently, there are reports that Inter Miami is a strong candidate for his next destination after he announced his departure from Manchester City.

The Guardian reported on the 9th (Korean time) that "De Bruyne may transfer to Messi's Inter Miami. If he decides to join Major League Soccer (MLS), it is highly likely that his destination will be Inter Miami."

According to recent reports, Inter Miami has obtained De Bruyne's 'Discovery Rights.' This means that if De Bruyne transfers to the MLS, Inter Miami will have the first right to negotiate.

Originally, De Bruyne's discovery rights were held by the newly established club San Diego FC. However, San Diego excluded him from their plans early this year, determining that signing De Bruyne did not align with their club's goals. As a result, Inter Miami gained the rights.

De Bruyne recently announced his departure from Manchester City. He posted on social media on the 4th, "This season will be the last few months as a Manchester City player. It is not easy to write this, but as a player, it is a situation one must face someday. Manchester will forever be a name remembered by our family," and announced that he would leave the team as soon as his contract expires.

He also noted, "Whether I like it or not, it's time to say goodbye. Manchester will remain forever in our family's hearts, as it is our home. I cannot express enough gratitude to this city, the club staff, teammates, friends, and family for joining us on this journey over the past 10 years."

Finally, he stated, "Every story has an ending. But this has been the best chapter of my life. Let's enjoy these last moments together!" promising to give his all for the remainder of the season.

Born in 1991, De Bruyne is one of the legends destined to remain in Premier League history beyond Manchester City. Since donning the Manchester City jersey in 2015, he has won the Premier League (PL) six times, the UEFA Champions League (UCL) once, the FA Cup two times, and the English Football League Cup (EFL Cup) five times under manager Pep Guardiola.

De Bruyne recorded 6 goals and 18 assists in 26 matches last season, showcasing his continuing skills. It was a performance befitting the Premier League's top playmaker. Hence, there have been many speculations that Manchester City will offer him an extension before his contract ends in the summer of 2025.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola has always expressed affection and trust in De Bruyne. However, time has taken its toll. De Bruyne has spent increasing time sidelined due to injuries.

De Bruyne missed five months last season due to a hamstring injury and had to sit out for more than ten games this season as well. Even after returning, he often started on the bench to manage his playing time. Ultimately, De Bruyne decided to end his ten-year journey with Manchester City. The club is set to erect a tribute statue for him at the Etihad Stadium.

Now the focus shifts to De Bruyne's next career move. Rather than retiring, he is said to plan to continue his professional career in another league. Countries including Saudi Arabia and the U.S., which pursued De Bruyne last summer, are emerging as strong candidates. Among them, Inter Miami seems to be rising to prominence.

Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, has been linked to De Bruyne for some time. The club aims to add De Bruyne to a star-studded lineup that includes Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. Miami's favorable environment for his children's living and education further enhances the prospect.

The key issue is De Bruyne's high salary. He is reportedly earning about $25 million (approximately 36.3 billion won) annually at Manchester City, a figure higher than Lionel Messi's $20 million (approximately 28.7 billion won), the highest level in MLS.

MLS is known for its strict salary cap system. The basic salary cap is approximately $740,000 (approximately 1.1 billion won), but exceptions are possible through the 'Designated Player Rule (DP).' Clubs can register up to three players as designated players, allowing them to contract above the salary cap. However, Inter Miami has already utilized all its designated player slots for Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

The Guardian noted, "Because of this, even if De Bruyne joins Inter Miami in the summer, it is likely that he will initially sign a contract in some other way rather than as a designated player," adding that "the most realistic alternative is to utilize 'General Allocation Money (GAM)' and 'Targeted Allocation Money (TAM)." This system allows clubs to subsidize or adjust a portion of the salary to fit within the salary cap.

According to media reports, Inter Miami currently has about $3.1 million (approximately 4.5 billion won) in GAM. While the amount of TAM held is not disclosed, it seems that they do not have much flexibility as the system has already been used for six players including Suárez.

There are actual cases. The Guardian explained, "Zlatan Ibrahimović joined LA Galaxy in 2018 under a TAM contract and transitioned to a DP contract the following year, while Jordi Alba also joined under a TAM contract alongside Messi in the summer of 2023 and later transitioned to a designated player." Currently, Messi, Alba, and Busquets are all under contract until 2025, thus it could be considered that De Bruyne might acquire DP status thereafter.

Ultimately, De Bruyne's willingness and negotiation flexibility will be crucial. The media added, "If Inter Miami can bring him on board, the prospect of a 'top European combination' with Messi could become a reality in North America."

[Photo] Sports Kita, ESPN, Football Transfers, Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, 433, Score 90 Social Media.

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