Kevin De Bruyne issued a heartfelt statement on the European Super League plans just as news emerged that Manchester City were set to pull out of the controversial competition.
Minutes after it was claimed that Chelsea were preparing documentation to withdraw from the competition, reports emerged that City had already told organisers they no longer wanted to be a part of it.
And at around the same time, City star De Bruyne took to Twitter to issue a heartfelt plea for a solution to the crisis which has rocked football.
De Bruyne's statement read: "This man comes out of a little town out of Belgium dreaming of playing at the highest stage possible.
"I've represented the Belgium, German and English league. And also proudly represented my country. I have worked and competed against everybody trying to win the ultimate.
"But the most important word is COMPETING.
"With all events that have been happening the last few days maybe this is the good moment for everybody to come together and try to work for a solution.
"We know this is a big business and I know I am part of this business. But I am still a little boy who just loves to play football. It's not about a certain entity in this case, it's about the football all over the world.
"Let's keep inspiring the next generation of footballers and keep the fans dreaming."
City boss Pep Guardiola had criticised the plans earlier in the day, saying: "It is not a sport where the relation between the effort and the success, the effort and the reward, does not exist. It is not a sport where success is already guaranteed or it is not a sport when it doesn’t matter where you lose.
And after it emerged that the Etihad club were set to pull out, reports from Spain claimed Barcelona and Atletico Madrid could also withdraw - with the breakaway league looking increasingly doomed just two days after it was announced.
