News Focus
- De Laurentiis says new coach will decide if De Bruyne stays or leaves Naples
- De Bruyne faces possible exit after saying he was “happy” about Conte’s departure
- The Belgian struggled with injuries and tactical disagreements during his first season
- Allegri’s defensive style could clash with De Bruyne’s preferred attacking football
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has said that the club’s next manager will choose Kevin De Bruyne’s future. The Belgian midfielder could leave the Serie A club after he said he was happy that former coach Antonio Conte had left.
De Laurentiis spoke to reporters on Thursday. He said that Massimiliano Allegri, who is expected to become the new coach, will decide if De Bruyne stays. The president also warned that Napoli can find other players easily if the former Manchester City star leaves.
The Napoli owner reacted to De Bruyne’s recent interview. In that talk, the midfielder said he felt happy when Conte left. De Bruyne said Conte did not keep his promises about attacking football. He also said he never played in his best position under the defensive coach.
De Bruyne joined Napoli for free last summer after ten years at Manchester City. But his first season in Italy has been hard. He hurt his hamstring badly in October and could not play until March. He only played eighteen Serie A matches in the 2025-26 season.
The Belgian player criticised Conte’s tactics. He said the team played too defensively using a 4-5-1 system. He noted that the centre-forward scored only ten goals. This showed the system was not successful.
Conte left Napoli after winning the league title the season before. His replacement, Allegri, also likes defensive football. This makes people wonder if De Bruyne will fit into the new manager’s plans.
De Laurentiis could not confirm Allegri’s job for legal reasons. But he made it clear that the new coach will pick which players stay. He said both De Bruyne and assistant coach Cristian Stellini made bad comments. He added that if players must leave, the club will find others without problem.
De Bruyne’s position at Napoli is now uncertain. He might face punishment for his comments. Or Allegri could decide the Belgian does not fit his plans. Either way, De Bruyne’s time in Naples might end soon.