Questions asked of Allegri after De Bruyne’s standout performance in Italy 0-2 Belgium

MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 05: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli looks on from the bench during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Roberto Mancini has taken his fair share of criticism following Italy’s 2-0 defeat against Belgium in the Nations League on Friday night, but Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri has also ended up in the crossfire after an impressive performance from Kevin De Bruyne on the night. 

De Bruyne excels with Belgium, but not with Napoli

The post-match player ratings from the leading newspapers in Italy agree that De Bruyne was one most impressive performers as the Azzurri fell to a 2-0 defeat at home against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico: Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio with the goals. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport gave De Bruyne a rating of 7/10, highlighting his creative output and his physical assertiveness. Tuttosport rated De Bruyne at 7.5/10, suggesting that he was far more productive with Belgium than he ever has been with Napoli. The Corriere della Sera agreed with that sentiment, giving him a rating of 7/10 and questioning ‘what is Allegri thinking?’. 

Those comments come following reports at the start of the week that tension and frustrations are increasing at Napoli, and that Allegri’s honeymoon period as head coach has already come to an end. 

Allegri cut a frustrated figure during his post-match press conference at the end of Napoli’s recent 1-1 Serie A draw against Fiorentina, and the post-match reports claim that he is growing increasingly frustrated with his players’ attitude. 

It has been suggested that De Bruyne is one of the players with whom Allegri has grown frustrated. 

Yet, under a new head coach in Mark van Bommel with the Belgium national team, De Bruyne seems a different animal, playing to his strengths and being at the creative output that Napoli have been crying out for at times this season. 

“What can I say, he’s still one of the best in the world and I’m lucky to have him in the team,” said a grateful van Bommel after full-time on Friday.

This surely leaves Allegri with some thinking to do, especially with Scott McTominay pushing to return once the international break comes to an end. Allegri has not fielded the Belgian and the Scot in the same starting XI since his appointment as Napoli head coach over the summer.