Napoli face Manchester City at the Etihad on September 18
Kevin De Bruyne has admitted it will be awkward to line up against Manchester City later this month when Napoli begin their Champions League campaign at the Etihad Stadium.
The Belgium midfielder ended a ten-year spell at City in June after his contract was not extended, joining Napoli on a free transfer in July.
He is now settling into the Serie A environment under Antonio Conte but faces an early return to England in the upcoming European tie.
“It’s going to be strange,” said De Bruyne. “City is my club and that’s not going to change.”
De Bruyne admitted he has had some adjusting to do after nearly a decade playing English football.
“My first impression is that things are more tactical in Italy and the game moves a bit slower,” said Belgium’s captain. “But it’s still football, I played other systems before while at Manchester City.”
De Bruyne joined City for £54m in 2015. He made 422 appearances for the club, winning six Premier League titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups, and the Champions League.
The peak moment of those years is easily the spring of 2023 when he won the continental treble with the Sky Blues, only the second time the feat had been achieved in English football history.
Napoli travel to Manchester on September 18 for their group opener, where De Bruyne is expected to receive a warm reception from City supporters.
