As the Premier League prepares to say goodbye to one of its greatest-ever creators, Liverpool fans are watching events unfold with both curiosity and a sense of relief.
Kevin De Bruyne, a six-time league champion and the architect of countless heartbreaks for the Reds, has announced that 2024/25 will be his final season at Manchester City.
It’s not just at Anfield that the winds of change are blowing. Trent Alexander-Arnold getting “closer” to Real Madrid, while Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are now likely to pen two-year extensions to their contracts.
A creative genius the Reds were always glad to avoid
While Liverpool and City shared one of the fiercest title rivalries of recent years, De Bruyne was always a source of frustration for Jürgen Klopp’s side.
His vision, timing, and ability to break down even the best-organised defences made him a uniquely dangerous foe – and someone Liverpool defenders won’t miss.
Even in the twilight of his City career, De Bruyne remained one of the few players given license by Guardiola to take risks – to attempt the spectacular. It’s what made him so special. Belgian journalist Filip Joos summed it up best in a recent interview with Sporza:
Joos said: “He was allowed to lose the ball… That may sound strange in a player’s eulogy, but that was exactly what made De Bruyne so great for me. That he was not the risk-free player.”
Could De Bruyne join Liverpool?
While most signs point to a move abroad – with Saudi Arabia and the United States touted as potential destinations – Joos couldn’t help but indulge in a fantasy that would shake the footballing world: De Bruyne in a Liverpool shirt.
“I would love to see De Bruyne at Manchester United or Liverpool, but that won’t happen,” Joos admitted, referencing Johan Cruyff’s famous move to Feyenoord out of spite. “He should do what he feels like doing.”
As romantic as the idea sounds, Liverpool fans know such a move would be virtually impossible. The history, the rivalry, and the reality of De Bruyne’s age and future ambitions all make a switch to Anfield deeply unlikely.
Maybe not Liverpool but Reds will be happy to see the back of De Bruyne
De Bruyne’s departure will undoubtedly weaken City’s creative engine – a development Liverpool, under Arne Slot, will quietly welcome.
In the chess match between the two clubs, losing a player of De Bruyne’s calibre creates an opportunity for the Reds to reassert themselves – especially as they prepare for their own era-defining changes.
And while it may be wishful thinking to imagine Kevin De Bruyne trading Manchester blue for Liverpool red, the memories of his brilliance – and the relief of his absence – will linger on Merseyside long after he departs the Premier League.
