News Focus
- Kevin De Bruyne publicly welcomes Antonio Conte’s departure from Napoli due to tactical disputes
- The Belgian midfielder claims Conte failed to honour pre-season promises about attacking football
- De Bruyne confirms he never played in his preferred position during Conte’s tenure
- Future at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona remains uncertain with one year remaining on contract
- Max Allegri’s potential appointment could trigger De Bruyne’s exit due to similar defensive philosophy
Kevin De Bruyne has delivered a scathing assessment of his brief spell under Antonio Conte at Napoli, declaring his happiness at the Italian manager’s departure following a season of tactical frustration.
The Manchester City legend arrived at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona last summer as a free agent, but his campaign was disrupted by a serious thigh injury suffered in late October that sidelined him until March. Despite registering five goals and four assists in 21 appearances, the Belgium international never adapted to Conte’s conservative methods.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad ahead of international duty, De Bruyne outlined the breakdown in his relationship with the former coach. “In every match, I gave my absolute best for the team,” he insisted. “However, we operated with an extremely defensive mindset. When you approach every fixture aiming for 1-0 victories using a 4-5-1 formation, you are implementing a very specific style of football. At the season’s outset, we sat even deeper than expected.”
The midfielder highlighted the team’s attacking struggles as evidence of systemic failure, pointing out that the centre-forward managed merely ten goals. When asked directly whether he felt relief at Conte’s exit, De Bruyne responded candidly. “From my perspective, absolutely. He was under no obligation to stay. Last summer, there were clear promises regarding how we would play, yet ultimately very little of that materialised,” he stated.
“I found that genuinely disappointing. Football must be enjoyable, and unfortunately that dimension was absent. There is no benefit in avoiding the truth—we possess fundamentally different visions of the sport. I never once played in my proper position under his management.”
Despite Conte’s removal, the 33-year-old’s future in Naples hangs in the balance. With twelve months remaining on his current deal, De Bruyne is seeking urgent clarity. “I have a year left on my contract, but I require discussions about my situation,” he explained. “There was extensive dialogue last season concerning our tactical approach and objectives, yet none of those plans came to fruition.”
The situation presents a complex challenge for Napoli’s board, particularly with Max Allegri—whose philosophy prioritises defensive solidity even more than Conte’s—emerging as the favourite to take charge. Should Allegri assume control, De Bruyne’s departure from Serie A appears increasingly inevitable.