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Chelsea star Kevin De Bruyne encouraged to join Atletico Madrid
CHELSEA attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is being encouraged to leave Stamford Bridge and join Atletico Madrid.
Alderweireld, who was the subject of frenzied summer transfer speculation as he was sounded for moves to Tottenham and Liverpool before Atletico intervened, wants to link up with his countryman.
De Bruyne, who has also been linked to Wolfsburg, has already been advised by the Belgium coach Marc Wilmots to consider a January move so as to not to hinder his chances of securing a spot in the World Cup squad.
"It will be fantastic if he joins Atletico in January," Alderweireld, who made the move to Madrid from Ajax in the summer, told Het Laatste Nieuws.
"Kevin is an excellent player. He knows how to play football.
"On the other hand, this team is already shaped and is doing well in the league.
"If he decides to leave Chelsea, he has to move to a team where he can play regularly, because the World Cup is coming."