The Partenopei face restrictions under Financial Fair Play parameters after exceeding economic limits last season. Speaking at a press conference, Manna explained that heavy investment over the past two campaigns, combined with missing Champions League revenue in Antonio Conte’s first year, has forced the club to balance the books.

“The real objectives do not change, we are not weakening the team,” Manna insisted. “We are called to get back within certain economic balances that last year we broke through because we invested a great deal over the last two seasons.”

New manager Max Allegri, who replaced Conte this summer, inherits a squad that Manna admits cannot be strengthened until sales materialise. The director noted that the transfer market in Italy remains “pretty static,” with only Fiorentina making significant investments.

De Bruyne and Anguissa staying

De Bruyne’s future had been uncertain following reports he criticised Conte’s tactical approach, but Manna dismissed speculation about a departure. The midfielder, who signed a contract with an option for a third year, suffered an injury last term but remains central to plans.

“He has not yet spoken to Allegri, we await him at pre-season training,” Manna said. “I did not appreciate some of his words, but there’s no problem. Kevin doesn’t have to decide if he’s staying or leaving, he is part of the project.”

On Anguissa, the director was emphatic: “Frank Anguissa has a contract with Napoli, so I see no need to negotiate with him. He is not for sale.”

Injury blow and Lukaku uncertainty

Defender Alessandro Buongiorno faces two to three months out after undergoing meniscus surgery. Manna described the setback as “a surprise” but indicated Sam Beukema should return to the squad towards the end of pre-season training in Castel di Sangro.

Romelu Lukaku’s situation remains unresolved. The striker is on holiday following Belgium’s World Cup campaign, with Manna confirming the club will assess his future upon his return.

Kevin De Bruyne is preparing to leave Napoli just twelve months after arriving from Manchester City, with intermediaries already working to secure the Belgium international a move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia.

The midfielder joined the Serie A club as a free agent last summer when his contract with Manchester City was not renewed. Despite widespread expectation that he would move to the Middle East or Turkey to see out his career, De Bruyne selected Naples partly as a lifestyle choice, committing to terms that run until June 2027. Napoli hold an option to extend that agreement by a further twelve months, though that now appears increasingly unlikely.

Injury and tactical frustration

His Italian experiment has proved deeply frustrating. A serious injury sustained early in the campaign sidelined De Bruyne for several months, disrupting his integration into the squad and limiting his impact. When he eventually returned to full fitness, he reportedly voiced irritation with the defensive tactical approach favoured by former manager Antonio Conte.

The situation has deteriorated further following the appointment of Max Allegri as head coach. Allegri’s methodology prioritises defensive organisation even more heavily than Conte’s, creating a clear mismatch with De Bruyne’s creative instincts. Now 35, having celebrated that birthday last month, the midfielder appears ready to conclude his time in Naples and seek a club whose style better suits his abilities during the final phase of his career.

Galatasaray lead interest

Galatasaray have already registered interest in the playmaker, while French outlet L’Equipe reports that additional Turkish clubs and Saudi Pro League representatives are exploring the possibility of securing his signature. Because De Bruyne joined Napoli without a transfer fee, the Italian club are prepared to allow his departure for a nominal fee, motivated primarily by the desire to remove his significant wages from their financial commitments.

The departure would mark a swift conclusion to a chapter that promised much but delivered little due to physical setbacks and tactical disagreements. What began as a lifestyle choice has instead become a disjointed spell marked by frustration. The coming weeks will determine whether De Bruyne heads to Istanbul, the Saudi Pro League, or another destination entirely as he seeks meaningful playing time in the twilight of his distinguished career.

Five Napoli players featured at the global tournament, but their return dates will be staggered based on their nations’ progress. Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay and Netherlands winger Noa Lang are set to be the first World Cup representatives back at the training ground, having both been eliminated during the opening stages.

Belgium duo Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, who helped their country reach the quarter-finals, have been granted additional recovery time. The pair are scheduled to rejoin the squad on August 5.

Speaking at his unveiling, Allegri emphasised the importance of direct assessment. “Until I see and coach players,” he stated, “making judgments from outside is always very difficult. We’ll leave with whoever is available to start the work.”

Staggered Returns

Uruguay defender Mathias Olivera also represented Napoli at the World Cup alongside McTominay, Lang, Lukaku and De Bruyne. While Olivera similarly exited during the early rounds, the club has confirmed only that McTominay and Lang will lead the return of the international contingent.

The delayed arrivals mean Allegri will initially work with a reduced group as he implements his tactical approach. The coach inherits a side that finished second in the 2025-26 Serie A campaign under predecessor Antonio Conte, who departed after securing the Scudetto and Supercoppa Italiana during his two-year tenure.

Pre-Season Priorities

Allegri’s immediate focus will be on evaluating the players available from day one, including the early-returning McTominay and Lang. The former Manchester United midfielder and PSV winger will have an opportunity to impress the new manager ahead of the Belgium internationals’ return next month.

The Partenopei will need to balance fitness management with tactical preparation as their World Cup participants reintegrate at different stages. With Lukaku and De Bruyne granted nearly three weeks’ additional rest compared to their teammates, Napoli’s medical and coaching staff will monitor their conditioning carefully ahead of the new campaign.

Belgium’s tournament concluded with a narrow loss to Spain in the last eight. Mikel Merino’s decisive goal sealed the victory for La Roja, sending the Red Devils home and bringing De Bruyne’s extended season to a definitive close. The result extinguished Belgium’s hopes of global glory and shifted the playmaker’s focus immediately to club matters.

Speaking to DAZN after the match, De Bruyne addressed questions regarding his readiness for the upcoming term. “Let me take a break and then I’ll be back,” he said, acknowledging the physical toll of a long campaign. The midfielder emphasized that he has demonstrated his capacity to return to peak condition following the serious injury that disrupted his debut Napoli season, noting that he worked hard to regain fitness in time to play a leading role for his country throughout the tournament.

De Bruyne’s first year in Naples was severely curtailed by fitness setbacks, limiting his domestic contributions despite his high-profile arrival from Manchester City. His prominent performances for Belgium at the World Cup underscored his successful rehabilitation, featuring in every match until the quarter-final exit.

Now the midfielder will enjoy a short rest before joining Massimiliano Allegri’s squad for pre-season preparations. The incoming Napoli manager will view De Bruyne’s fitness and availability as central to his tactical plans for the 2025-26 season, particularly given the playmaker’s creative influence during Belgium’s run to the last eight. Napoli will hope their key asset can maintain the match sharpness displayed on the international stage as they seek to close the gap on the division’s leading sides next term.

The Italian side will mark 100 years of existence during the upcoming season. Their latest shirt, produced in collaboration with EA7 and Valentina De Laurentiis for the sixth consecutive year, features the image of a horse—a direct reference to the Steed of the Sun, Napoli’s original emblem and for centuries a representation of the untamable spirit of the Neapolitan people.

Design Roots

The club described the jersey as capturing “a century of history and belonging” while serving as “our second skin” for the campaign ahead. The creative project draws from the collective memory of supporters, with the sky-blue design deliberately recalling the lightweight wool kits worn throughout the 1980s and the specific strip from Napoli’s maiden Serie A championship.

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay and Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne featured prominently in the launch imagery shared across social media. Promotional footage accompanying the release spans from Mount Vesuvius to Posillipo, continuing through the heart of the old city to the Scugnizzo Liberato football pitch, weaving together places and identity.

Managerial Transition

The kit launch arrives as the Partenopei enter a fresh chapter under head coach Massimiliano Allegri. The former Juventus and AC Milan manager has signed a three-year contract at the Stadio Maradona, officially succeeding Antonio Conte.

Allegri assumes control during a significant milestone for the club, tasked with steering the squad through domestic and European competition while Napoli celebrate their centenary throughout the 2026-27 season. The appointment marks the first managerial change since Conte’s departure, with the new regime set to lead the team into the club’s second century.

Napoli have officially appointed Massimiliano Allegri as their new head coach on a three-year contract. The Serie A club confirmed the experienced Italian manager’s arrival this week, selecting him ahead of several other candidates including Vincenzo Italiano to lead the team into the forthcoming campaign.

The appointment represents a significant statement of intent from the Partenopei, who secured the runners-up position in the 2025-26 Serie A table. By turning to a coach with extensive pedigree at the highest level of Italian football, Napoli have demonstrated their ambition to consolidate their status among the country’s elite clubs and mount a sustained challenge for domestic and European honours.

From Milan Disappointment to Fresh Opportunity

Allegri’s return to management follows a challenging 2025-26 spell with Milan, where he failed to secure qualification for the UEFA Champions League. The Rossoneri’s failure to finish inside the top four under his guidance led to his departure from San Siro, marking a rare setback in an otherwise distinguished career.

Despite this recent disappointment, the 57-year-old remains one of the most successful coaches in modern Serie A history. He previously guided both Milan and Juventus to multiple Scudetto titles, demonstrating a consistent ability to construct winning teams and navigate high-pressure environments at major institutions. His track record of delivering silverware ultimately convinced Napoli’s hierarchy to entrust him with the role, overlooking other contenders in the process.

The Task Ahead at the Maradona

Napoli’s second-place finish in the 2025-26 season ensures continued participation in European competition, placing immediate pressure on the new manager to maintain these standards. The club’s directors will expect Allegri to utilise his tactical expertise to keep the team competitive both domestically and on the continent throughout his three-year tenure.

The decision to opt for Allegri ahead of Italiano suggests Napoli were seeking a manager with established credentials in managing elite squads and delivering immediate results. Allegri’s immediate priorities will include evaluating the playing staff he has inherited and implementing his structured, defensively solid approach. The three-year duration of his contract indicates the club are prepared to afford him time to imprint his philosophy, though expectations will remain high given the team’s recent achievements.

The fixture, which kicked off at 21:00 UK time, witnessed one of the tournament’s most remarkable turnarounds. The Teranga Lions appeared destined for a famous victory after establishing a two-goal cushion through Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, the latter registering his fourth strike of the tournament. However, a dramatic finale to normal time and an additional 30 minutes of action saw the 2018 semi-finalists complete their comeback.

From Two Down to Victory

Senegal had arrived at the knockout phase following group stage losses to France and Norway, though they secured qualification with a commanding 5-0 triumph over Iraq. They carried that momentum into the last-32 clash and controlled proceedings for much of the contest, leading comfortably until the final five minutes of regulation time.

Romelu Lukaku, introduced at the interval, sparked the Belgian revival with a clinical finish in the 85th minute. Just three minutes later, captain Tielemans headed home the equaliser to force extra time. The late flurry followed early tactical changes from manager Rudi Garcia, who withdrew Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku before the contest had reached its conclusion.

During the additional period, both sides created opportunities to snatch victory. The decisive moment arrived deep into the second half of extra time when a lengthy VAR review awarded Belgium a penalty. Tielemans stepped forward and dispatched the spot-kick with confidence, sealing a historic progression to the last 16.

Squad Changes and Debuts

Senegal were forced to manage without their first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who missed the fixture due to a knee injury. Mory Diaw deputised between the posts but endured a difficult evening, facing scrutiny for his reaction to Belgium’s second goal. Among the substitutes, defender Bara Sapoko Ndiaye earned his first World Cup cap.

Belgium’s starting line-up had initially featured De Bruyne and Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere, operating as a false nine, though the latter was later replaced by Lukaku in a move that proved pivotal. Como winger Assane Diao remained Senegal’s sole Serie A representative and started among the replacements. The Red Devils had endured an unconvincing group phase themselves, managing draws against Egypt and Iran before finding rhythm in a 5-1 defeat of New Zealand.

What Next

The victory sets up a Round of 16 encounter for Belgium against the winner of the tie between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina. For Senegal, the defeat marks the end of a campaign that showed promise but ultimately succumbed to one of the most stoppage-time collapses in the tournament’s history.

The Belgium manager reacted angrily to a report in French-language Belgian newspaper La Libre that had compared Kevin De Bruyne to a washed-up Hollywood actor following a flat display against Iran. “I really didn’t appreciate them being called has beens,” Garcia said. “When a nation has players of that calibre, you support them.”

Leaders fire in New Zealand rout

Garcia’s irritation came after Belgium secured top spot in Group G with a commanding 5-1 victory over New Zealand in Seattle. The win extended their unbeaten run to 16 months—their last defeat being a 3-1 loss to Ukraine in Garcia’s first match in charge.

Leandro Trossard scored twice, including the opening goal that arrived after some comical defending saw New Zealand’s Chris Wood and Tim Payne mark each other rather than the Brighton forward. Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku also found the net, with Lukaku heading home just 56 seconds after stepping off the bench. Charles De Ketelaere completed the scoring.

The victory means Belgium remain based at the Seattle Sounders training headquarters rather than travelling, though Garcia downplayed any advantage. “I wish we had won more games – all our games – but we are not going to go back to the past,” he said. “What matters now is that we have progressed out of the group stage.”

Fitness boosts for knockout stage

Belgium received encouraging news on the fitness front ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Senegal. The condition of Jérémy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere and Romelu Lukaku is improving, while defender Zeno Debast is available for his first minutes of the tournament after recovering from a leg injury.

At a press conference alongside De Ketelaere, Garcia asked his player whether the comprehensive win had eased pressure. “Yesterday [Monday] showed us that to be favourites or not doesn’t matter,” De Ketelaere replied, referencing early exits for Germany and the Netherlands. Garcia concurred, responding simply: “Le même chose.”

Senegal test looms

Belgium will face a Senegal side that finished third in a difficult group containing France, Norway and Iraq. The African nation are ranked 18th by Fifa, just eight places below Belgium.

Garcia expects a stern examination from a team coached by Pape Thiaw, whom the Frenchman knows from his time assisting Robert Nouzaret and John Toshack at Saint-Étienne. “I was following young players and I told Robert: ‘You should have a look at this young Senegalese player,’” Garcia recalled. “It’s funny because I had forgotten about it but when we saw each other in December for the draw we hugged and he reminded me.”

Should Belgium prevail, they would face either the USA or another third-placed qualifier in the last 16. They defeated Mauricio Pochettino’s USA side 5-2 in a March friendly in Atlanta.

• Belgium deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation with Courtois between the posts
• Captain Kevin De Bruyne leads the Red Devils’ attacking midfield
• Iran selects a defensive 4-5-1 system with Taremi as the lone forward
• Argentine official Darío Herrera will referee the clash

Belgium’s manager has selected an aggressive starting eleven for this vital World Cup group stage encounter. Thibaut Courtois starts in goal. The back four comprises Thomas Meunier, Mukau Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, and Maxim De Cuyper. In the centre of the park, Nicolas Raskin partners with Youri Tielemans to provide defensive cover. The attacking trio features Alexis Saelemaekers, captain Kevin De Bruyne, and Leandro Trossard operating behind lone striker Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian bench offers experienced reinforcements. Timothy Castagne, Charles De Ketelaere, and veteran Axel Witsel are available to influence the match later.

Iran’s coach opts for a cautious approach. Alireza Beiranvand guards the net. The defence includes Sadegh Hardani, Hossein Kanani, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Mohammadhossein Nemati, and Ehsan Hajisafi. The midfield unit consists of Ramin Rezaeian, Saman Ghoddos, Saeid Ezatolahi, and Mohammad Mohebbi. Porto striker Mehdi Taremi carries the attacking responsibility alone.

Argentina’s Darío Herrera takes charge of proceedings as the match referee.

• Belgium and Egypt begin their World Cup journey in Group G on Monday evening
• Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah could face each other for the final time
• Both stars overcame difficult spells at Chelsea to become Premier League icons
• Salah holds a superior head-to-head record with ten wins from nineteen meetings
• The match carries extra significance as both players turn thirty-four during the tournament

Two giants of English football will share the same pitch on Monday night when Belgium face Egypt in their opening World Cup match. Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah have defined the Premier League era for nearly a decade. Now they meet on the world stage in what could be their final showdown.

The Group G fixture kicks off in North America on Monday evening. Both players will be thirty-four years old when the ball starts rolling. While neither has retired from international football, this World Cup likely represents their last opportunity to shine at the highest level.

Their career paths share remarkable similarities. Both men arrived at Chelsea during January transfer windows, yet neither found success at Stamford Bridge. De Bruyne made only nine appearances for the London club, while Salah featured in nineteen matches. Managers sent them on loan to Werder Bremen and Fiorentina before permanent moves to Wolfsburg and Roma transformed their fortunes.

Their second seasons in Germany and Italy proved career-changing. De Bruyne contributed to forty-four goals in fifty-six matches. Salah managed thirty-three goal involvements in forty-one games. These performances attracted Manchester City and Liverpool. The rest became history.

Between them, they have collected numerous trophies. Salah lifted the Champions League with Liverpool and claimed four Premier League Golden Boots. De Bruyne won multiple titles with City and matched Salah’s individual haul with assist records. The Egyptian set the record for most goals in a thirty-eight-game season with thirty-two strikes. The Belgian equalled Thierry Henry’s assist record of twenty in a single campaign.

Despite City’s domestic dominance during this period, Salah holds the advantage in their personal battles. The Liverpool legend has defeated De Bruyne’s teams ten times from nineteen encounters. The Belgian has managed only five victories. Their sole international meeting ended in Egyptian success four years ago during a World Cup warm-up match.

This rivalry lacks hatred. Both players speak highly of each other. When De Bruyne left Manchester City in 2025, Salah praised his contribution to English football. The Belgian midfielder has previously described Salah as “unbelievable” for his goal-scoring achievements.

Belgium enter this tournament with doubts. De Bruyne admitted in 2022 that the squad was “too old” to win the competition. While younger players like Jeremy Doku have emerged, the team lacks the quality of their 2018 “golden generation.”

Egypt face different pressure. The seven-time Africa Cup of Nations winners have never progressed beyond the group stages with Salah in their ranks. Their best World Cup finish remains the Round of Sixteen from 1934. Matching this achievement would mark significant progress for the North African side.

Neither player remains at their peak. De Bruyne has battled injuries recently, while Salah posted his worst goal return for a decade last season. However, both can still produce moments of magic. Salah recently broke the record for most goal involvements at a single Premier League club.

Monday’s match offers more than three points. It provides a final chapter in one of football’s most respectful rivalries. Kenyan fans who have followed their Premier League battles for years will witness these legends write their final World Cup stories.