De Bruyne claims he is not trying to leave Napoli but admits ‘difficult start to season’

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GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli watches the Serie A match between CFC Genoa and SSC Napoli at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simon Avida/Getty Images)


Kevin De Bruyne insists he is not trying to leave Napoli during the summer transfer window but admits it has been a “difficult start” under Massimiliano Allegri: “Details make the difference between our seven points and the 10 or 11 points we should have had”.

De Bruyne: “I just enjoyed my holiday and went straight back to Napoli”

Napoli is off to its worst start to Serie A in 10 years with just seven points from the first five games of the 2026-27 season. Reports in Italy on Tuesday suggested that things were starting to get rather unpleasant behind the scenes at the Maradona Stadium as well.

FLORENCE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 20: Massimiliano Allegri, head coach of SSC Napoli, watches the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SSC Napoli at the Stadio Franchi on September 20, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: SSC Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri watches the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SSC Napoli at the Stadio Franchi on September 20, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Allegri is thought to have been disappointed with the performances of De Bruyne, who also fell out with Antonio Conte before leaving Napoli at the end of the 2025-26 season.

At the end of the 2025-26 season, De Bruyne missed five months of the season through injury and reports suggested the Belgian was looking to leave, with his options in MLS abound.

NAPLES, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 09: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league stage MD1 match between SSC Napoli and Arsenal Football Club on September 9, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 9: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league stage MD1 match between SSC Napoli and Arsenal Football Club on September 9, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

But despite recent media chatter and rumors that he struggled with life under Antonio Conte last season, De Bruyne insists he is not trying to leave Napoli.

Asked if there was any truth to rumors he was seeking a move away in the summer. press conference Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s match against Belgium, De Bruyne said: “No, I haven’t spoken to anyone about it yet. I just enjoyed my holiday and went straight back to Napoli.”

He continued: “We have had a difficult start to the season, and we have played against a lot of strong teams. We even had a chance to win the game in the last minute against Inter Milan, but we lost. These details are the difference between the seven points we got and the 10 or 11 points we should have got.”

“We didn’t do very well in terms of points, but I thought we did well.”


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