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Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has provided major hint on a potential move to Saudi Arabia as he enters the final stretch of his professional career. The Belgian's contract with City expires at the end of next season and so far, there have been no discussions to sign an extension. 

The Saudi clubs have been eyeing De Bruyne for a long time but have refrained from taking the plunge owing to his high-profile status. However, the situation might change as De Bruyne in a recent interview to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws said he remains open to the idea of moving to Saudi Arabia. 

"At my age you have to be open to everything. You're talking about incredible amounts of money in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that," said De Bruyne. 

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'If I play there for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money. Before that I had to play football for 15 years. I may not even reach that amount yet. Then you have to think about what that could mean next. But at the moment I haven't had to think about that yet," he added. 

De Bruyne said he has spoken extensively about a move out of Manchester with his wife Michele Lacroix, who is said to be receptive to an ‘exotic adventure’. 

"I still have one year left on my contract, so I have to think about what could happen. My eldest is now eight years old and knows nothing but England," said De Bruyne. 

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"He also asks how long I will play for City. Once the moment comes, we will have to deal with it in a certain way," he added. 

Also read | Premier League: We won the game with him - Guardiola lavishes praise at ‘assists-king’ De Bruyne in Palace win

De Bruyne's legacy

De Bruyne has been one of the most influential midfielders in the league since he returned to England in 2015 after a spell with Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg. De Bruyne has since won the UEFA Champions League, six Premier League titles, five League Cups and two FA Cups. 

The Belgian spent the majority of the first half of the last season sidelined due to a hamstring injury but hit top form as soon as he returned to the team in January. His goal and assist against Newcastle United helped City pull off a comeback win that started their quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title. 

While De Bruyne continues to stack up the assists column, he has considerably slowed down in the middle of the pitch, suggesting that he might be nearing the end of his prime. At such a stage in life, it makes sense for an athlete to secure the bag and ensure maximum returns out of a short playing career.  

(With inputs from agencies)