As the sun sets on an extraordinary chapter at Manchester City, one of the club’s most iconic figures, Kevin De Bruyne, appears poised to bid farewell to the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2025. The Belgian maestro, whose decade-long tenure has redefined midfield brilliance in English football, is nearing the end of his contract, sparking a frenzy of speculation about his next move. At 33, De Bruyne’s performance may have dipped from its once-unassailable peak, but his legacy—laden with six Premier League titles, a Champions League triumph, and countless moments of jaw-dropping creativity—remains untouchable. Now, a bold call from across the Atlantic has emerged, urging South American football giants to seize the opportunity and bring this departing legend to their shores.
The clarion call comes from Carlos Morete, a former striker whose name still echoes through the stands of one of Argentina’s most storied clubs. Speaking with the conviction of a man who knows what it takes to win, Morete has implored River Plate to roll the dice on De Bruyne. “River has a manager and brains,” he declared, painting a picture of a club with the vision and ambition to pull off such a coup. “Why didn’t anyone take a plane to Manchester and go find out about De Bruyne? He’s 33 years old. You pay him $20 million, which comes free, and you see if you bring him or not.” For Morete, it’s a no-brainer—a transformative signing that could catapult River back to the pinnacle of South American football.
De Bruyne’s potential exit from Manchester City is set to be the centerpiece of a seismic squad overhaul under Pep Guardiola. After a decade of dazzling assists and long-range screamers, the midfielder’s contract expires in June 2025, and whispers suggest the club won’t stand in his way if he seeks a new challenge. Despite a nagging injury history and a slight decline in his once-relentless output, De Bruyne’s pedigree remains a magnet for suitors worldwide. From the glitz of the MLS to the riches of the Saudi Pro League, options abound—but Morete sees a different path, one that could see the Belgian lace up his boots in the passionate cauldron of Buenos Aires.
“He’ll make you a champion, make you fight for championships, and solve all your problems,” Morete insisted, his words brimming with belief in De Bruyne’s enduring magic. He envisions a scenario where River, a club with a proud history of 38 Primera División titles and four Copa Libertadores crowns, leverages De Bruyne’s experience to dominate once more. “He’s a real star, and he’s not that old,” Morete added, dismissing concerns about age or fitness. His pitch is tantalizingly simple: offer De Bruyne a hefty $20 million annual salary—feasible since he’d arrive as a free agent—and let his genius do the rest. “Go and see how he is physically,” he urged, suggesting a scouting trip could seal the deal.
The idea of De Bruyne swapping the Premier League’s manicured pitches for the raw intensity of South American football is as audacious as it is intriguing. River Plate, currently navigating a transitional phase under manager Marcelo Gallardo’s successor, could use a marquee signing to galvanize their squad and fanbase. Morete’s frustration with the club’s recent transfer strategy bubbled to the surface as he critiqued their spending on lesser lights. “If you buy a player for 14 like the Colombian or 12 for Driussi, you’ve made a million-dollar salad,” he quipped, referring to recent signings that haven’t quite delivered. “Here you don’t pay a penny for a transfer and you bring in a star. Everything River brought in doesn’t solve anything.”
De Bruyne’s time at City has been a masterclass in modern football—336 appearances, 89 goals, and a staggering 213 assists as of early 2025. His vision, often likened to a quarterback’s, has turned games on their head, from threading impossible passes to unleashing thunderbolts from distance. Yet, the physical toll of a demanding career is undeniable. Injuries have curtailed his minutes this season, and City’s evolution under Guardiola may see them pivot toward younger talents. When he departs, he’ll leave as one of the club’s greatest-ever players, a linchpin in their rise to global dominance since joining from Wolfsburg in 2015 for £55 million.
For River Plate, the stakes are high but the rewards could be higher. A player of De Bruyne’s caliber could not only elevate their domestic campaign but also make waves in the Copa Libertadores, where South American supremacy is fiercely contested. Morete’s rallying cry taps into a broader narrative—South American clubs, long accustomed to losing talent to Europe, now have a chance to reverse the flow. “He leaves City for free, pay him 20 million euros a year and bring him in,” he reiterated, framing it as a financial and competitive masterstroke.
As the summer transfer window looms, De Bruyne’s future remains a tantalizing puzzle. Will he chase one last lucrative payday in Saudi Arabia? Test himself in the growing MLS? Or could Morete’s impassioned plea lure him to Argentina, where the roar of the Monumental Stadium awaits? For now, the football world watches with bated breath, knowing that wherever De Bruyne lands, his brilliance will light up the pitch. For River Plate, it’s a dream worth chasing—a chance to harness a departing legend and write a new chapter in their illustrious history.
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