There were worrying scenes in Naples after Kevin De Bruyne appeared to suffer a serious hamstring injury while scoring a penalty for Napoli in their Serie A match against Inter. De Bruyne has been impressive since linking up with Antonio Conte in Italy, but was in tears and had to be helped by a number of medical staff as he made his way around the pitch.
Getty Images SportPromising start to life in Serie A
After a decade of success at Manchester City, where he won 19 major trophies, De Bruyne moved to Naples. And he enjoyed a strong start, scoring four goals and laying on two assists in his first 11 appearances across all competitions, helping Napoli to the top of the Serie A table. The 34-year-old's arrival was widely celebrated and he was likened to club legend Diego Maradona.
However, his debut season with Napoli has also seen early drama. He was involved in a spat with manager Antonio Conte after being substituted in a game against AC Milan. And he was also named on the bench for the clash against Genoa. And now he has hobbled off with a worrying-looking injury.
AdvertisementWatch the clipDe Bruyne left devastated as Napoli go on to win
Immediately after converting the spot-kick, he pulled up clutching his right thigh and was visibly tearful as he was helped off the field by Napoli staff. De Bruyne, who joined Napoli earlier this year, has a history of hamstring problems.
It was a night of high emotion at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona which saw Napoli overcome Inter Milan 3-1 to reclaim the top spot in Serie A. The pivotal victory came after a tumultuous week for Gli Azzurri, following a humbling 6-2 Champions League defeat by PSV Eindhoven. The match's opening stages were dominated by Inter, with Alessandro Bastoni and Hakan Calhanoglu testing Napoli's defence.
However, the hosts who took the lead from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute, with De Bruyne converting after Henrikh Mkhitaryan was judged to have fouled Giovanni Di Lorenzo. The celebration was short-lived following the Belgium international’s injury. Napoli rallied in the second half and in the 54th minute, Scott McTominay extended the lead with a superb half-volley from a long ball. Inter responded quickly, with Calhanoglu converting a penalty of his own just five minutes later following a handball decision by VAR. With the game on a knife-edge, Frank Anguissa sealed the victory for Napoli in the 66th minute, capping off a dynamic run with a powerful finish.
Conte downplays public spats
Conte recently praised De Bruyne’s evolution as a player, highlighting his growing involvement in the team game. He said: "Kevin is evolving to become more involved in the team. I see him very engaged, also because he enjoys playing. He has raised our level. Kevin is now expressing his potential at a high level, not just in his usual role, but in what he is contributing with us. He is a player who helps us build, also through his personality. We are carving out a role for him, and he seems very involved and happy."
He added: "We have to manage our schedule between Serie A and the Champions League. Against Pisa, I rested Anguissa and Lobotka after several games where Kevin was a key player, I chose to start with a 4-3-3. But he’s fully integrated, we understand each other perfectly. He’s very important for us because, when we play with four midfielders, he adds a lot of quality."
