KEVIN DE BRUYNE has been tipped for a transfer to the MLS by a former team-mate.
The Manchester City midfielder’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season.
City have yet to extend his deal after putting off talks during his lengthy injury lay-off.
De Bruyne missed four months earlier this season with a hamstring injury.
He has now been tipped to join either LAFC or LA Galaxy once he leaves the Etihad Stadium.
His former Belgium and Genk team-mate Christian Benteke believes De Bruyne would be a good fit for the MLS.
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Benteke told the MLS’ Extratime show: “He’s 32 and he’s been around in Europe for many, many years.
“I can see him at a team in LA.”
De Bruyne has continued to impress since returning from injury for City.
The 32-year-old has scored five goals and provided 14 assists in 19 appearances this season.
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Meanwhile, Phil Foden has emerged as his creative successor in the City midfield after amassing 14 goals and seven assists in the league.
De Bruyne previously played with Benteke for both Belgium and Genk earlier in his career.
The striker also spent a decade in England with Aston Villa, Liverpool and Crystal Palace before joining MLS side DC United in 2022.
He has since scored 21 goals in 44 league appearances in the USA and has praised the standard of the competition.
Speaking about the MLS in general, he added: “I would describe the league as physical and technical.
Why Man City fans were to blame for penalty defeat to Real Madrid
RIO FERDINAND and Joleon Lescott have blamed Man City’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Real Madrid on the FANS.
Bernardo Silva missed one of the spot kicks as City crashed out of the Champions League.
And the England duo spotted how the home fans at the Etihad played a role in the spot-kick being saved.
Ex-Man City star Lescott claimed the home supporters held onto the ball for too long after Real’s Luka Modric fired his shot into the stands.
He said: “That would have just took him out of sync and out of his rhythm.
“You can practice the routine, the technique, the walk up potentially, this is something you don’t prepare for, the ball being in the crowd.”
Ferdinand chimed in: “40 seconds by the way Joleon,” before Lescott continued: “That is a long time. It may not seem that long but it’s a very long time when you are waiting there and you are thinking, now do I change position?
“Now do I change where I go? And all of a sudden, it’s a soft penalty.”
Manchester United legend Ferdinand went on to say: “It’s a shame though as well, because it is the home fans that are delaying that penalty kick which is a shame.”
“It’s a mix of both because people think, ‘Oh yeah, MLS is easy. They don’t really care about football or soccer.’
“Until you play the game, you understand that you will enjoy yourself. But you better be ready, you better respect the league because it’s not that easy.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
