Big news! Manchester City s core midfielder may leave the team freely next year. Saudi tycoon opens a sky-high contract and it is difficult to refuse

According to the latest disclosure by talkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs, the 31-year-old Portuguese international B is seriously considering joining the Saudi League as a free agent after the 2026 summer window contract expires. Once this news was exposed, it immediately sparked heated discussions among Manchester City fans.

Since landing at the Etihad Stadium from Monaco in the summer of 2017, the B seat has left Manchester City with great achievements: it has made more than 400 appearances, won 6 Premier League championships and the first Champions League trophy in the team's history, becoming an irreplaceable "panacea" in Guardiola's passing and control system. Even in the turbulent period of Manchester City's midfield swaps in the 2024-25 season, he was still the team's stabbing needle - although he was frequently arranged to "fight" in multiple positions such as wingers and midfielders, his number of interceptions and long pass accuracy remained at the forefront of the team, and even scored in key battles to save the team and led the team to the top three in the Premier League.

With De Bruyne leaving the team and Walker transferring, Manchester City introduced new stars such as Reindes to complete the youthful transformation with £123 million. Although B's core position in the midfield has not been shaken, it also faces more fierce competition. At the beginning of the new season, Manchester City was in poor form, Guardiola's tactical adjustments have not yet been effective, and the veteran's physical fitness and condition have occasionally shown signs of fatigue. For the 32-year-old B seat, it is indeed a very tempting thing to join the Saudi tycoon next summer and earn the last pot of gold in his career.

In fact, as early as two years ago, Riyadh Crescent offered a sky-high contract with a weekly salary of 500,000 pounds and a signing fee of 2 million pounds for B seats, but B seat did not agree at the time. Now as the new cycle approaches, the olive branch of the Saudi League is more attractive: How can you refuse a four-year contract covering the 2028/29 season?

According to insiders, behind this is the precise layout of the Saudi League. Since Ronaldo's joining triggered a "ratings boom", continuing the Portuguese star effect has become the focus of the Saudi league. Riyadh won the first place to chase B Fee, while Jeddah Nationals and Huberkudisia stared at B seats, forming a "double hunt" against the Portuguese midfielder. A more far-reaching consideration lies in the league upgrade strategy: by introducing superstars like B seats with championship experience and technical capabilities, and cooperating with the upgrading of training bases and the construction of youth training systems, Saudi Arabia is sprinting to the goal of "five years of comparing with the five major leagues". Of course, the B seat is still hesitating. After all, it is a bit reluctant to leave Manchester City. Staying at Manchester City, he can continue to compete for top honors such as the Champions League and the Premier League, and enjoy the competitive atmosphere of European football. Going to Saudi Arabia means he bid farewell to the mainstream European leagues. But the Saudi League contract not only means wealth protection, but is more likely to give him core status and a longer career life cycle.

The current situation is more inclined to Saudi Arabia's chances of winning. Although Riyadh Crescent withdrew from the competition, the enthusiasm of teams such as Jeddah Nationals has not diminished, and Manchester City has not yet made a clear statement to renew the contract. Considering the gradual formation of Rodri and Reindez's midfield combination, the tactical weight of the B seat may be further diluted. Perhaps it's time for B to say goodbye to Manchester City. In the end, will the Portuguese ace international really leave Manchester City? Let's wait and see.