Kevin De Bruyne's arrival at Napoli this week marks a significant moment, as one of the greatest players of his generation moves to a new club for the first time in a decade. The transfer was somewhat understated, lacking the usual fanfare. The medical took place in Rome, rather than Naples, which helped to avoid large crowds. Despite this, a small group of fans greeted him upon his arrival at the Villa Stuart clinic, about 140 miles from Napoli's home stadium. The announcement of the move came from Napoli's owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, who posted a picture on social media of himself and De Bruyne sitting side-by-side. The caption simply read, "Welcome Kevin!"
This event signifies a shift for Napoli. The club, once known for its underdog status, is now projecting an image of a team that knows how to win and intends to continue doing so. Their international brand has grown to the point where they can attract players like De Bruyne. While De Bruyne is a significant signing, he is not the first major player to join Napoli under De Laurentiis's leadership. Gonzalo Higuaín, who had previously scored 121 goals for Real Madrid and won La Liga three times, joined Napoli. Victor Osimhen was acquired from Lille for over €70 million.
De Bruyne will be 34 when he plays his first game for Napoli. Although his performance levels have declined in the last two years at Manchester City, he still contributed eight goals and 17 assists in the last two Premier League seasons, despite starting only 34 games. This demonstrates that he still has a lot to offer. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Napoli's Instagram gained over 500,000 new followers, more than 10% of their total, within hours of De Bruyne's announcement.
De Bruyne's signing may solidify Napoli's recent success. They have won two Serie A titles in the last three years, but these victories have felt somewhat disconnected, achieved under different managers, tactics, and players in key roles. The 2022-23 Scudetto was unexpected, with Luciano Spalletti utilizing the talents of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen. Last season was a new project under Antonio Conte that quickly came together.
De Bruyne stated in April that he still has a lot to offer. He will now play in Naples under Conte, a manager known for winning, and for an owner with growing ambitions. Conte has previously expressed frustration with the club's late transfer business, which hindered his preparation time. Acquiring De Bruyne early may indicate a more aggressive approach in the upcoming summer transfer window. Napoli have also signed Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay.
