Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne has revealed that he is not fully opposed to controversial plans of a biennial World Cup.
The suggestions have been strongly pushed over recent months by former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, with the initial plan seeing the World Cup being staged every two years instead of the current four-year cycle.
Speaking about the plans, the Frenchman has encouraged clubs both in England and abroad to pledge their support.
He said: "I am 100% convinced it is the right solution. In football, if you don't play big competitions, you will play small competitions - don't think we won't play.
"Because this proposal respects the current 80/20 balance between club and international football, I would sign with two hands if I was in a club."
The plans were initially met with backlash from supporters and players, with even the Premier League intervening with a statement expressing their opposition.
It read: “All 20 Premier League clubs have discussed the post-2024 International Match Calendar reform process and are unanimously opposed to FIFA's proposal for biennial men's World Cups, along with any plans involving significantly extended international windows.”
Despite that, Manchester City playmaker de Bruyne has suggested that the proposals could work after discussions with Wenger, but only under strict conditions.
Speaking to Belga, the Belgian said: "At the start of the season, I had a meeting with FIFA and Arsene Wenger to explain to us what they wanted to do.
"To do something like that, federations of all countries, UEFA and FIFA have to coordinate. Everyone has to work together.
"I insisted on a second point: I told them that they had to keep a real period of rest for us, the players, at the end of the season.
"The idea isn't bad in itself, as long as everyone works together."
