Kevin De Bruyne will make an emotional return to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday as Napoli face Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, with the Belgian maestro enjoying a sensational start to life in Italy.
At 34 years old, De Bruyne has shrugged off years of hamstring injuries to inspire Napoli’s perfect start in Serie A. The former City legend has scored two goals in three matches for the Italian champions and looks determined to drive them deep into Europe’s elite competition.
Conte’s New Role for De Bruyne
Napoli boss Antonio Conte has reshaped his midfield to maximize De Bruyne’s creativity, describing him as “a bit of a genius.”
“The role we’re creating for Kevin is perfect because he loves having the ball at his feet,” Conte said after De Bruyne scored in the 3-1 win over Fiorentina.
“He sees situations others rarely see. We’re trying to let him give us everything he’s capable of.”
While De Bruyne thrives centrally, Scott McTominay, one of last season’s standout performers, has been pushed wider to accommodate the Belgian playmaker.
Emotional Return to City
For De Bruyne, this fixture will be more than just another game. During his decade at City, he won six Premier League titles and the long-awaited Champions League crown in 2023, cementing his place as one of the greatest players in the club’s history.
City, meanwhile, head into the clash buoyed by a dominant Manchester derby victory, underlining the scale of Napoli’s challenge. Conte admitted:
“We’re going there as pupils to learn from the masters — me included — hoping that one day the pupil can beat the master.”
Napoli’s Strengthened Squad
Napoli’s squad has been reinforced after the high-profile departures of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen, with Conte turning to clever signings.
- Rasmus Højlund netted on his debut, filling in for the injured Romelu Lukaku.
- Sam Beukema impressed at centre-back, even scoring on debut while Amir Rrahmani remains sidelined.
- Vanja Milinković-Savić (goalkeeper) and Noa Lang (forward) also add steel and flair.
Backed by owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, Napoli enter the Champions League full of confidence, with De Bruyne at the heart of their ambition to rival Europe’s best.
Thursday’s clash pits master versus pupil, Guardiola against Conte, and offers De Bruyne a chance to prove he still belongs among the very best — this time in Napoli blue.
