New clubs, new countries, new cultures, new positions. Kevin de Bruin Apparently adapted to everything in Naples, the 34-year-old midfielder has returned to him Old life this week.
Napoli’s Champions League opener on Thursday sees DeBruin return to Manchester City just a few months later Goodbye to his tears Ten years after the club’s trophy, where King Kev became a fan favorite and became one of the greatest players of all time.
After nine years under Pep Guardiola, De Bruyne seamlessly slotted Antonio Conte’s team, already scoring two goals in three games, helping Napoli’s title defense get off to a perfect start.
“Kevin is a bit of a genius,” Conte said after a 3-1 victory at Fiorentina. “We are trying to carve out a new role for him that fits what he can give us.”
Conte has a midfield filled with Naples’ talent, which we’ve seen in tactical changes that seem to be working – de Bruyne and Scott McTominai It switches from a central role to a more unusual position.
And the pair already appears to form a deadly duo, experiencing physical strength, awareness and eyes on goals.
“We tried to find a solution. A good coach has to coexist with players. Last year, midfielders were important to Scudetto,” Conte said. “Kevin’s arrival may have meant that one of the three was ruled out, but I think the role we’re crafting for Kevin is perfect for him.
“We’re trying to get fewer points of reference to our opponents. Even last year, our pressure was very high. You have to prepare to do these types of things.
Shopping in Manchester
McTominay also made his move from Manchester to Napoli more Sunny Crimes last year, joining from city neighbour Manchester United and was named Serie A MVP for his debut season.
It helped to convince Conte to go shopping again in Manchester – Signed Rasmus Hojlund It is available for rent from United from after-sales. Striker Romeru Lukaku His longtime Belgian teammate, De Bruin, was injured shortly after his arrival.
Hojlund scored in his debut on Saturday.
“He was 22 and signed him from Manchester United, and we see that it was a movement with Mukutominai,” Conte said with a laugh. “Just aside, I knew Rasmus’ skills. It could be important to him.”
When De Bruyne parted ways with his wife and young children from Etihad Stadium, he said, “It’s time to say goodbye, I’m back.”
It will soon be that De Bruyne returns to the stadium, and there will be a statue of his honor.
Post-de-Bruin city
City’s post-Bruin era began with Pep Guardiola having to find new ways to provide the opportunities and goals of star striker Erling Haaland without the biggest creativity of British football of the past decade.
It seems that the load is shared.
De Bruyne’s vision is almost unparalleled, so Guardiola leaned over various players to fill in the blanks.
Rayan Cherki, a mysterious playmaker signed by Lyon this summer, could potentially become the top creator to replace De Bruyne, but has now been exposed with thigh injuries for two months.
Tijjani Reijnders is another central midfielder brought this offseason, but he plays deeper than De Bruyne and is a box-to-box player rather than a roaming playmaker.
He hopes Phil Foden will become City’s leading offensive midfielder for the next decade, but he is looking to rediscover his shape from two seasons ago, when he was a British football player. Wingers Jeremy Doc and Omar Marmash have already lie on Haaland’s assists this season, but it could be contradictory.
So the city doesn’t have a similar alternative to De Bruyne, who has created a goal from nothing, for 10 years, through incredible passes, through De Bruyne, wherever he is. His departure is why his departure was so important to Guardiola, as he forces him to change the team’s overall approach.
On Thursday, Guardiola has to think about stopping De Bruyne.
“I think he (de Bruyne) is happy to be back home,” Doku said of his Belgian teammate. “At the end, we have no intention of showing mercy to him.”
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