Belgium star Kevin De Bruyne is expected to make a move away from Stamford Bridge this winter and has even been advised to do so by his team-mate Eden Hazard due to the lack of opportunities for the 22-year-old at Chelsea.
The midfielder needs regular football in order to keep his World Cup dream alive and La Liga’s Atletico Madrid may well be his destination in January, according to the Mirror, citing Belgian publication HLNBE as a source.
There are a number of clubs interested in acquiring the services of De Bruyne this January, including Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04 and Belgian side Anderlecht, but Diego Simeone’s side are the favourites for capturing his signature and he’d be joining up with a familiar face in Thibaut Courtois.
De Bruyne has been reluctant to talk about his future for the most part but recently admitted that something would have to change for him if he is not getting enough minutes on the pitch, especially if wants to be selected as well as being sharp for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil next summer.
The Belgian incurred the wrath of Jose Mourinho following his poor display against Swindon in the Capital One Cup and has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese manager also famously left him out of the Champions League squad that played against Steaua Bucharest and bizarrely called the player out for his lack of effort in training in public.
We don’t see what goes on in training but singling De Bruyne out after the Swindon game seemed an odd thing for Mourinho to do as I struggle to think of a player that actually played well in what was an average display of football and I cannot really understand why our manager is quick to challenge his players in the public eye like he’s done already with David Luiz and Juan Mata.
Anyway, his national coach Marc Wilmots has urged De Bruyne to make a switch in preparation for the summer and think it’d be likely, but which club would be best for him? – Have your say in the comments section below
He should go to any spanish club, dat assures him regular playing time