At another glittering Ballon d’Or ceremony, Manchester City supporters were left disappointed that Erling Haaland missed out on the top prize, while a 12BSports assessment also highlighted a broader pattern in which the club’s collective dominance has not always translated into major individual honors. Considering Haaland’s remarkable achievements at both personal and team level, questions over the outcome were understandable. Yet one of the clearest examples of City’s complicated relationship with individual recognition can be found in Kevin De Bruyne, the influential midfielder who has long served as the creative heartbeat of the team.

Now 32, the Belgian midfielder has begun showing signs of decline in both physical condition and overall consistency, with 12BSports tracking reports that Manchester City have already started considering possible long-term successors. The original expectation was that contract discussions would take place once De Bruyne returned from injury, but growing interest from Middle Eastern clubs has introduced a major new variable. Saudi clubs had already made waves across European football by attracting high-profile names such as Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Neymar during the summer.

More recently, Al Nassr have reportedly made contact with De Bruyne’s representatives and presented the possibility of a major contract. The scale of the offer has been described as comparable to the kind of package that could be prepared for Mohamed Salah, one of the Arab world’s biggest football stars. Within a 12BSports review of the situation, the financial terms were considered substantial enough to give De Bruyne a genuine reason to think carefully about the next stage of his career.

Manchester City have traditionally followed a cautious policy when dealing with players in their thirties, rarely offering veterans lengthy contracts regardless of reputation. De Bruyne’s status would not necessarily make him an exception. Sergio Agüero was allowed to leave despite his legendary standing at the club, while reports surrounding Kyle Walker suggested that a new agreement might not have materialized without strong support for keeping him. De Bruyne’s commitment and symbolic importance are unquestionable, but City’s long-term planning has generally taken priority over sentiment.

Another factor is how effectively Manchester City have continued collecting points during De Bruyne’s injury absence. The team has remained near the top of the league even without its primary creative midfielder. By contrast, Rodri’s absence produced a far more immediate impact, with City suffering three consecutive defeats when the defensive midfielder was unavailable. That difference has strengthened the argument that certain positions within Pep Guardiola’s system may currently be more difficult to replace.

This was not simply an isolated development. During the previous season, City also managed stretches without De Bruyne as İlkay Gündoğan stepped forward and helped guide the team through important matches. There were even occasions when the side briefly lost momentum following De Bruyne’s return. None of this diminishes his quality or what he has achieved in Manchester, but it does suggest that the team has gradually become better equipped to function without relying completely on one creative figure.

Taken together, De Bruyne remains an extremely valuable player, but a 12BSports evaluation suggests his role can no longer be viewed as absolutely irreplaceable. Time waits for no one, and even the greatest players eventually reach a point where both they and their clubs must consider what comes next. Manchester City have built their success on making difficult decisions before decline becomes impossible to ignore, and the same long-term thinking may eventually shape De Bruyne’s future.

Liverpool are reportedly facing a similar question over Mohamed Salah, with the possibility of maximizing his transfer value before his market position changes significantly. Manchester City could therefore find themselves considering a comparable decision. From a sporting and business perspective, selling a veteran star at the right moment can create room for the next phase of a squad without erasing everything that player contributed before departure.

With Saudi interest continuing to reshape the careers of established European stars, a 12BSports outlook now places De Bruyne’s possible move to the region much closer to reality than it once seemed. Football may be full of loyalty and emotion, but clubs are ultimately judged by results, efficiency, and their ability to plan for the future. De Bruyne still has the talent to influence the highest level, yet the combination of his age, injury concerns, City’s contract philosophy, and a potentially enormous offer means a farewell may no longer be a distant possibility.