Napoli anxiously awaits test results on Kevin De Bruyne’s injury, feared to be a recurrence of a previous problem that kept him out for four months.
The recent injury to Kevin De Bruyne has left Napoli anxiously awaiting test results, with fears it could be a similar problem he experienced at Manchester City in 2023.
The 34-year-old midfielder converted a penalty to open the scoring in Napoli’s 3-1 Serie A win over Inter Milan, but immediately clutched the back of his right thigh, seemingly in tears.
De Bruyne was unable to put his right foot down, even with assistance from Napoli’s medical staff, and was eventually taken off the field on a motorised stretcher. He returned to the bench for the second half, using crutches, but it’s unclear how long he’ll be out of action.
The injury is particularly concerning as it’s in a similar spot to one that kept De Bruyne out for four months at Manchester City last season. While initial reports suggest it might not be as serious, De Bruyne is taking precautions to avoid exacerbating the issue.
Napoli coach Antonio Conte expressed concern, saying, “We won despite the difficulties, we have important players absent, and now De Bruyne has also been injured. Let’s say it’s not a very lucky year, maybe someone has cursed us.”
De Bruyne’s absence is a blow to Napoli, who have already been hit by injury problems this season, including Romelu Lukaku’s four-month absence due to a thigh tear.
The midfielder’s injury history is a concern, having previously missed significant time with similar issues. Napoli will hope for a speedy recovery, given their crucial Serie A fixtures ahead.
