Kevin De Bruyne revealed that he did everything he could to persuade his international teammate to join Manchester City, but the player has opted for another top club instead. The £80 million transfer is set to go through by the summer, as the player has agreed to personal terms with the alternative club.

De Bruyne expressed his disappointment in an exclusive interview, admitting that despite his efforts to convince his fellow Belgian to consider joining City and Pep Guardiola’s project, the player ultimately decided to go elsewhere. Although he respects the player’s decision, De Bruyne believes he would have been an ideal fit for City’s style of play and understands the allure of the opportunity offered by the other club.

While De Bruyne didn’t name the player or the club, sources have confirmed the transfer involves a prominent Belgian international, rumored to be linked with a big-money move recently.

With personal terms settled, City will now need to explore other options for reinforcements. Guardiola had identified the £80M-rated player as a great addition to his squad, leaving fans to wonder what could have been and whether City will come to regret missing out on this key signing. Only time will tell where the talented player ends up.