De Bruyne claims he didn’t try to leave Napoli, but admits ‘a rough start to the season’
GENOA, ITALY - AUGUST 22: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Kevin De Bruyne insists that he did not try to leave Napoli during the summer transfer window but admits that it’s been a ‘rough start’ under Massimiliano Allegri: ‘Details are the difference between our seven points and the 10 or 11 we might’ve deserved’.
De Bruyne: ‘I just enjoyed my holiday and then went straight back to Napoli’
Napoli are off to their worst Serie A start in 10 years after picking up just seven points from their first five games of the 2026-27 season. Reports in Italy on Tuesday claim that things are starting to look rather unpleasant behind the scenes at the Stadio Maradona as well.
There have been suggestions that Allegri is disappointed in what he has seen from De Bruyne, who had also fallen out with Antonio Conte prior to his Napoli departure at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
At the end of the 2025-26 season, De Bruyne missed five months of that campaign through injury, there had been reports that the Belgian was looking to leave and that he had plenty of options in MLS.
But, despite the recent media chatter and the rumours that he was not enjoying life under Conte last season, De Bruyne still insists that he has not tried to leave Napoli.
Asked if there was any truth to the rumours that he had sought a move away in the summer during a press conference with the Belgium national team on Tuesday, De Bruyne said: “No, I haven’t really spoken to anyone about it. I just enjoyed my holidays and went straight back to Naples.”
He continued: “We’ve had a rough start to the season, we’ve played a lot of strong teams already. We even had the chance to win it in the final minute against Inter, but we still lost. Those details are the difference between our seven points and the 10 or 11 we might’ve deserved.
“We’re not doing so well in terms of points, but I think we’re doing fine.”
Did De Bruyne consider leaving Napoli? 🤔🗣️#beINSPORTS #SerieA #Napoli #DeBruyne pic.twitter.com/rOUeuoN5Xn
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) September 22, 2026
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