Naples' victory against Inter (3-1) should have symbolized the revival of Antonio Conte's team. It finally turned into a nightmare. By scoring a penalty before the half-hour mark, Kevin De Bruyne gave his team a valuable advantage, but the joy was short-lived. A few seconds after his shot, the Belgian stopped, his hand placed on his right thigh, aware of having felt a worrying pain. Escorted by the medical staff, the Neapolitan midfielder left the field to the worried applause of the public.
A serious injury confirmed by the club
The first examinations carried out at the Pineta Grande hospital confirmed the fears of the medical staff: a high-grade lesion of the right femoral biceps. Naples made the diagnosis official in a terse press release, specifying that the player had already started his rehabilitation. According to Italian media, the duration of his absence will be measured in months, and could extend well beyond the end of 2025. A real blow for a 34-year-old player who had barely returned to his best level after a series of similar injuries at Manchester City.
This injury comes after Naples had regained the lead of Serie A, tied with AS Roma. Since his arrival this summer, De Bruyne had established himself as the brains of Antonio Conte's system, author of four goals and two assists in eight matches. His vision of the game and his sense of tempo structured a midfielder made up of Anguissa and McTominay. Deprived of his playmaker, Conte will have to reinvent his offensive animation, perhaps by repositioning McTominay higher up or by entrusting more creative responsibilities to Lobotka, when he is handed over.
A new fight to wage for De Bruyne
The timing is catastrophic for Naples. The club will have to face Frankfurt, Juventus, Atalanta and Benfica in the coming weeks, without its strategist. De Bruyne will also miss several meetings with the Belgian selection for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. His absence adds to an already long list: Lukaku, Neres, Meret and Lobotka are also unavailable. For Conte, it is a real headache to manage in a squad already under physical and mental tension.
This is not the first time that Kevin De Bruyne has found himself facing adversity. In 2023, he had already undergone surgery on the same muscle at Manchester City, before coming back stronger. His steely mind, forged since his adolescence, will once again be called upon. The Belgian has started a long rehabilitation process with the aim of returning in early 2026. At 34, he knows that every injury is a battle to be won. Naples now hopes that their maestro will return in time to play a key role again in the second half of the season.
