A Serie A giant has reportedly ruled out a summer approach for Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne due to concerns over the Belgian's age and wages.
The former Chelsea and Wolfsburg playmaker will bring the curtain down on a glittering 10-year Citizens career this summer, having confirmed that he will be leaving when his contract expires in June.
De Bruyne may be past his prime years as he approaches his 34th birthday, but the Belgium international is not yet ready to retire and should not be short of offers to continue his career elsewhere.
A stint in Serie A - a popular league for older players - has been mooted for De Bruyne, who is said to have been linked to current Italian champions Inter Milan, according to Calciomercato.
However, the report adds that the Nerazzurri are not intending to make a firm move for the midfielder, such is their policy when it comes to players of a certain age, no matter their quality.
Inter rule out 'large investment' for De Bruyne
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Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta supposedly does not give the green light to handing out large transfer fees or wage packets to players over the age of 30, even though the Nerazzurri have 11 players in their squad who are 30+.
Four of those players are arguably four of Inter's most important cogs - Yann Sommer (36), Francesco Acerbi (37), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (36) and Hakan Calhanoglu (31) - while Matteo Darmian, Stefan de Vrij, Piotr Zielinski, Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic are also 30+.
Inter signed former Manchester United playmaker Mkhitaryan on a free transfer just three years ago and could do the same with De Bruyne, but the Belgian would likely command a more extortionate wage than the Armenian.
According to Capology, De Bruyne earns £400,000 at the Etihad Stadium - second only to Erling Haaland's £525,000 - while Inter's highest-paid player, Lautaro Martinez, takes home circa £273,000 per week.
De Bruyne would therefore have to accept a significant wade reduction if he was to move to San Siro, but he could alternatively call it a day in Europe and enjoy one final lucrative payday elsewhere.
Where else could De Bruyne go this summer?
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As an ageing player with an astounding CV, De Bruyne would naturally be a prime target for the Saudi Pro League and MLS, who could pay him a staggering amount of money to set him up comfortably for retirement.
Calciomercato adds that a handful of MLS clubs have expressed an interest in signing De Bruyne, including Los Angeles Galaxy and San Diego FC, while others are also likely to throw their hat into the ring.
San Diego's sporting director recently confirmed that he had been in talks with De Bruyne's entourage, although he also admitted that the midfielder's pay packet made a move there unlikely too.
De Bruyne made his 414th appearance for Man City in Sunday's 0-0 derby draw with Manchester United, and he has come up with a terrific 106 goals and 176 assists for the Citizens in that time.
Ben Knapton
