On April 4, a page in the history of Manchester City turned. “Dear Manchester, seeing this, you probably understand where it leads. So, I'm going to go to the point and announce that it will be my last months as a Manchester City player. Nothing is easy to write, but as footballers, we all know that this day will come. This day has happened, and you deserve to hear it from my mouth first. »At 33 and after ten years at the club, Kevin de Bruyne will therefore bow out. The Belgian does not end his career (courted by Inter Miami and Saudi Arabia), but he closed the long Mancunian chapter of his career.
Manchester City was not caught up in the Cityzens had decided for some time to regenerate an aging workforce. The 2024/2025 season very complicated by the English club has only confirmed this urgent need of fresh blood. Unsurprisingly, the Mancunian direction has been activating a backstage for a while to replace the Red Devil. Txiki Begiristain has given way as director of football to Hugo Viana, but The Athletic Ensures that the Spaniard will stay for some time with the Portuguese in order to accompany him for his beginnings in his new environment.
An environment listed in Europe and an English revelation
And obviously the two men already have tracks for the afternoon Bruyne. The English -speaking media revealed two. The first quoted player is not a surprise since it is Florian Wirtz. At 21, the German midfielder in Bayer Leverkusen turned out to be in the eyes of the Europa last season. Between a title of German champion and his very good personal record (18 goals, 20 assists in 49 games), Wirtz has become one of the most courted circles on the old continent. Announced in the viewfinder of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or FC Barcelona, the German international had chosen to stay in Bayer last summer. Under contract until 2027, Wirtz is supposed to extend and his club estimates its market value at € 150 million. The other name cited by The Athletic is less flashy. Morgan Gibbs-White is not the best known player on the European scene. But in England, the 25 -year -old attacking midfielder has made a great reputation.
Torn off in Wolverhampton by Nottingham Forest during the summer of 20222 in exchange for a check for € 52 million, Gibbs-White is one of the main craftsmen of the XXL season of the Reds (3rd in the ranking). For almost three years, the native of Stafford has posted a good regularity in the Premier League. Author of 5 goals and 8 assists in 22/23, then 5 goals, 10 assists in 23/24, the one who plays at number 10 under the orders of Nuno Espirito Santo displays 5 goals, 9 assists this season (7 days from the term). Performance that may help Nottingham Forest qualify for the next Champions League. His performances have in any case recently opened him the doors of the England team. Convened for the first time by Lee Carsley in September 2024, Gibbs-White convinced Thomas Tuchel to keep him in his group. Decisive medium placed at the heart of the game, Gibbs-White has a profile that can progress under the orders of Pep Guardiola. It also has the advantage of being cheaper than Florian Wirtz, even if transfers between English clubs often reach crazy sums …
