Tag: De Bruyne

 Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne underwent an operation on his injured hamstring in his native Belgium, the Serie A club announced.

 “As planned, Kevin De Bruyne underwent surgery on Wednesday in Antwerp, following a high-grade tear of the biceps femoris in the right thigh,” Napoli said in a statement.

 “The operation went well. De Bruyne, who was assisted during the operation by the head of Napoli’s medical staff, Dr. Raffaele Canonico, will now begin the first post-surgery phase of rehabilitation in Belgium.”

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De Bruyne sustained the hamstring injury while scoring a penalty for league leaders Napoli in a 3-1 win over Serie A title rivals Inter Milan on Saturday.

De Bruyne, 34, has scored four times since joining Napoli following his departure from Manchester City in the summer, three times from the penalty spot and once with a free-kick.

Napoli sports coordinator Gabriele Oriali said Tuesday that he expected De Bruyne to be out of action for three to four months.

Napoli midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after significantly injuring his thigh as he scored a penalty against Inter Milan.

The 34-year-old clutched his right thigh after opening the scoring in the 33rd minute on Saturday and was substituted a few minutes later.

The Belgium playmaker was taken to hospital and scans confirmed a high-grade tear.

Reigning champions Napoli, who beat Inter Milan 3-1 to return to the top of Serie A, have not put a timeline on his return to action.

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De Bruyne joined Napoli on a free transfer from Manchester City in June.

He has scored four goals in eight league appearances and has made a further three appearances in the Champions League.

Manchester City welcome a familiar face back to the Etihad Stadium today as they kick off their Champions League campaign against Napoli and Kevin de Bruyne.

But while City boss Pep Guardiola shed tears when the Belgium midfielder made his final appearance for his team last season, the Spaniard said he will enjoy De Bruyne’s return on Thursday “after the game.”

De Bruyne, who won 19 trophies during his glittering 10-year spell at City and captained the side through some of its most dominant seasons, makes a swift return to Manchester following his summer move to Naples.

Though he now wears Napoli blue, “King Kev” remains a beloved figure at the Etihad.

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Guardiola is not surprised how seamlessly De Bruyne has slotted into Antonio Conte’s Italian team, scoring two goals in three matches.

“Of course it’s nice to have him back. The players in that level (Serie A) adapt so quickly and they don’t need that much time to adapt,” he said.

City were eliminated from last season’s Champions League by Real Madrid in the knockout phase playoffs.

Guardiola said that while the former European giants were not considered favourites this season, he was approaching the league phase with cautious optimism.

“Just enjoy the moment. We’re happy to be here after the path we have been (on) so we’re just focusing on tomorrow and the game we have to play and starting well in this competition,” he said. “If you start with a bad result it can be difficult.”

City can draw on the European experience of their new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was a key player in Paris St Germain’s Champions League triumph last season.

“I would always say in the last decade we have had incredible goalkeepers,” Guardiola said. “(But) Gigi, at his age, just 26 years old, he can play for us for many years and he is a top-class keeper.”

With De Bruyne’s return adding an emotional layer to the fixture and both teams eager to start strongly, Thursday’s clash promises to be a compelling encounter at the Etihad.

Kevin De Bruyne has signed for Napoli as a free agent after being released by Manchester City, the Serie A champions’ president Aurelio De Laurentiis  has confirmed.

Film mogul De Laurentiis posted a picture of himself shaking hands with De Bruyne on social media with the message: ‘Welcome Kevin!’

Belgium midfielder De Bruyne has reportedly signed a two-year deal with an option for a third at Napoli, where he will join up with international teammate Romelu Lukaku and former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay.

The 33-year-old left City at the end of this past season after a trophy-packed decade in Manchester, where under Pep Guardiola he won six Premier League titles and in 2023 the Champions League.

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He has, however, suffered from a series of physical problems in recent seasons, with two hamstring injuries causing him to miss significant chunks of the last two campaigns.

Napoli have brought in one of Europe’s top midfielders as the Italians try to bolster a squad which next season will defend the Scudetto while also having the extra fixture pressure of the expanded Champions League.

Antonio Conte’s Napoli beat Inter Milan to the Serie A title on the final day of the season, their second league crown in three years.

But they had no European football clogging up their calendar, unlike Inter, who got to the Champions League final only to be thumped 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain.

Kevin De Bruyne says he “probably” won’t play for Manchester City at the Club World Cup to avoid an injury that could damage his bid to find a new club.

De Bruyne will leave City after 10 years when his contract expires in the close-season, but there has been speculation he could sign a short-term deal to remain with Pep Guardiola’s side for the Club World Cup.

The first of two summer transfer windows is an additional registration period created by FIFA for teams involved in the Club World Cup, effectively allowing players in De Bruyne’s situation to stay on for the tournament.

City’s opening game is against Moroccan club Wydad AC in Philadelphia on June 18.

However, the 33-year-old is unlikely to be involved given his future plans are unresolved at present.

“It does not make any sense. But that happens when you push in new tournaments in the middle of a contract situation,” De Bruyne said. “I have to take care of myself, because if I get injured in the Club World Cup, what am I going to do? Nobody’s going to take care of me at that point, so there’s a big chance I probably won’t play it, but I don’t know, maybe yes.”

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De Bruyne has helped City to six Premier League titles and Champions League glory since signing in 2015.

But what is likely to be his last showpiece occasion with City ended in disappointment as Crystal Palace won 1-0 in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

The Belgium midfielder is not in a rush to make a decision about his future, but did not rule out a move to another Premier League club and admitted he has already had conversations with some suitors.

Asked after the FA Cup final if he ideally wants to stay in the English top-flight, De Bruyne said: “I don’t know. It depends who comes.

“I have a family, I have young kids, I have to take care of a decision that suits everybody, not just me. When I was 20 years old and by myself, I could make a decision that was very easy, but now it’s a bit more complex.”

De Bruyne’s inconsistent display in the Cup final underlined why Guardiola was willing to part ways with a City icon whose career has been ravaged by injuries over the last two years.

Pressed on whether or not his next employers could be in the Premier League, De Bruyne replied: “Maybe.”

After four successive titles prior to this season, it has been a dismal campaign by City’s high standards.

But City are still fighting for a Champions League place next season, with tomorrow’s home game against Bournemouth and a trip to Fulham on May 25 offering a chance to climb back into the top five.

“Of course it’s not been the season we wanted. We want to win all the time, but this season we have not done it,” De Bruyne said.

“You have to take it on the chin, and sometimes it doesn’t go the way that you want to, but we tried, and you have to move on.

“I think comparing to a lot of players, I’ve won way more than others, so I will be forever happy and grateful for what we have done as a team, what they have given me.”

Manchester City boosted their Champions League hopes as they roared back from two goals down to thump Crystal Palace 5-2 at the Etihad Stadium.

Palace were 2-0 up after 21 minutes via goals from Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards, and the former subsequently had the ball in the net again, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

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The game then changed completely as Kevin De Bruyne pulled one back for City just before the break before a dominant second-half display from the hosts saw Omar Marmoush, Mateo Kovacic, James McAtee, and Nico O’Reilly all get on the scoresheet.

Pep Guardiola’s men rose two places to fourth, two points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest, who were beaten 1-0 by Everton at the City Ground courtesy of Adboulaye Doucoure’s stoppage-time goal.

Aston Villa joined City in moving into the top five as they won 3-0 at relegated Southampton.

It appeared the Saints might earn a rare point when Aaron Ramsdale saved Marco Asensio’s 69th-minute penalty, but Ollie Watkins put Villa ahead four minutes later, and fellow substitute Donyell Malen swiftly added a finish of his own.

Kevin de Bruyne has announced that he will depart Manchester City when his contract concludes at the end of the current season.

At 33 years old, De Bruyne has secured 16 trophies with City since his move from Wolfsburg in 2015, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023.

Throughout his time at City, he has netted 106 goals in 413 appearances across all competitions, though he has only started 19 matches this season.

“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter,” the Belgium midfielder wrote on social media.

“Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This city. This club. These people gave me everything. I had no choice but to give everything back. And guess what – we won everything.

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“Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michele, and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant for our family. Manchester will forever be on our kids’ passports – and more importantly, in each of our hearts.

This will always be our home. We cannot thank the city, club, staff, team-mates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride.”

The Belgium captain joined Manchester City from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in 2015 for £55m.

A year later, manager Pep Guardiola arrived at the club and played a key role in shaping De Bruyne into a central midfielder.

De Bruyne was instrumental in City’s golden era, which culminated in their first-ever Champions League title in 2023.

However, in recent years, the midfielder has struggled with injuries. He missed nearly five months of the previous season as City claimed their fourth consecutive Premier League title, making only 26 appearances across all competitions.

While recovering from a thigh injury sustained in September, De Bruyne put contract talks on hold.

The former Chelsea player had expressed last summer that he was “open to everything” amid rumors of a potential move to Saudi Arabia.

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne should soon return from injury after missing Sunday’s Premier League clash at home to Arsenal, manager Pep Guardiola has said.

The 33-year-old suffered a suspected groin problem in the 0-0 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.

City next host Championship (second-tier) side Watford in the League Cup third round on Tuesday and travel to Newcastle United in the Premier League at the weekend.

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“I don’t think it will be long,” Guardiola said of De Bruyne’s expected return after City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

“I cannot say how long for, I don’t know for Newcastle but it won’t be long. (He has) discomfort in his legs.”

De Bruyne was out for four months with a hamstring injury last season but made a memorable comeback at St James’ Park with a goal in a 3-2 win over Newcastle in January.

City top the standings with 13 points after five games.