Kevin De Bruyne will currently be preparing for Manchester City’s clash against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League knockout stage.
The Belgium international has enjoyed a good spell this season, managing eight goals and registering 19 assists in all competitions.
He needs to be at his best if Pep Guardiola’s side are to be victorious, and there’ll be a lot of pressure on his shoulders.
The player’s agent, Patrick De Koster, will not be in attendance at the Santiago Bernabéu to watch his client in action and has explained the reason.
“I’m not going to Madrid. I don’t want to start a controversy. If they are going to see me in Madrid now, they will say that I am there to negotiate. I have a large TV so I will watch the match on it. Don’t [want to] start a controversy,” De Koster told MIDMID podcast, as reported by Voetbal Primeur.
There’s been no strong claims of Real Madrid interest in the 28-year-old.
Even if the 13-time European champions are keen on signing De Buryne, it will not be easy for them to get him out of City. De Bruyne’s contract at the Etihad runs down in 2023 and any potential transfer means Real Madrid need to spend big for a transfer.
De Koster is perhaps being a little too cautious, just watching his client play, in the absence of general transfer talk, is unlikely to start a media storm.
