Joe Cole has claimed Kevin De Bruyne could perform a sensational U-turn and remain at Manchester City this summer after his performance in their comeback win over Crystal Palace.
The Belgian midfielder announced last week that he is leaving Manchester City at the end of the season on a free.
He rolled back the years with a magnificent performance as Pep Guardiola’s side strengthened their Champions League hopes with a 5-2 win over Palace.
De Bruyne scored a free-kick and then assisted Mateo Kovacic after City had gone two goals down in the first half.
And Cole is hopeful the playmaker will change his mind and remain in the Premier League next season.
Asked if De Bruyne could make a U-turn and extend his contract at the Etihad, Cole said on TNT Sports: ‘I think there’s a possibility that still could happen.
Joe Cole has claimed Kevin De Bruyne could perform a U-turn and remain at Manchester City
The Belgian announced last week that he is leaving Manchester City at the end of the season
De Bruyne inspired City to victory over Crystal Palace with a goal and an assist
‘When he said there about playing pain-free, there is nothing worse than playing with something sore and people won’t know that’s affecting you and it might take 10-15 per cent off your game.
‘When you are playing pain-free then the shackles are off and you are feeling back to your best again. Maybe that was the case earlier in the season where he felt hampered by injury.
‘But who knows, we have seen stranger things happen. From a Premier League perspective you would love to see him stay here at this club or somewhere else.’
De Bruyne had serious interest from the Saudi Pro League last year, but decided to stay at City for a 10th campaign.
Now David Beckham’s Inter Miami are exploring the possibility of signing him, though Angel Di Maria has also emerged as a potential target and the MLS side cannot land both.
The win over Palace has seen City climb into fourth spot in the race for Champions League football next season.
De Bruyne said: ‘I want to go away with a Champions League place for this team because they deserve it. We’ve been in the Champions League for the nine, ten years that I’ve been here, so I hope we can do that for the team next year and I’ll just try to play good football like I’ve always done.’
He added: ‘I think we started well, had a couple of chances and out of nowhere we’re 2-0 behind and it could have been three. The response was good. I thought overall we played pretty much a good game but we gave chances away and they pounced on it. The reaction was really good and in the end I think we deserved to win.
‘I think it was important to score as quickly as possible and change the feeling of the game a bit. I didn’t think we were playing that bad but the scoreline wasn’t good at all. We went from there.’
