Kevin De Bruyne is still smarting over Antonio Conte’s decision to substitute him off against Manchester City after just 20 minutes last season.
The midfielder returned to the Etihad last year with Napoli after leaving Manchester City that summer.
But it proved to be a bittersweet reunion as he substituted out of the game early by manager Antonio Conte after Giovanni di Lorenzo had been sent off for a foul on Erling Haaland.
De Bruyne had been handed a hero’s welcome before the game, with Manchester City fans lining up to welcome him to the ground before signing his name during the warm-up. They even sang his name when the substitute happened.
But that did not take away from the disappointment of what was supposed to be a glorious homecoming with his new team.
Manchester City decision hurt
And it seems a year on, that decision from then manager Antonio Conte continues to smart for the Belgian. That’s at least if Roberto Carlos Sosa is to be believed.
“After more than a season, it seems the spark between De Bruyne, and the Napoli environment never really ignited? He is still smarting from what happened with Antonio Conte,” he said via Area Napoli.
“During the centenary celebrations, I had the chance to chat with him and take a photo with my son. De Bruyne speaks a bit of Italian and Spanish, and he was kind to us. I complimented him on his performances under Conte during an unlucky season—one where he suffered a bad injury.
“Kevin, who is a great guy, told me: ‘I like playing football, I like *calcio*…’ He prefers a different style of play than the one Napoli employed. It’s not a question of a spark with the environment, but rather with Conte’s system. Last year, the spark with Conte never ignited; they never really clicked.”
| Team / category | Achievement | Total | Years / seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genk | Belgian Pro League | 1 | 2010/11 |
| Genk | Belgian Cup | 1 | 2008/09 |
| Genk | Belgian Super Cup | 1 | 2011 |
| Wolfsburg | DFB-Pokal | 1 | 2014/15 |
| Wolfsburg | German Super Cup | 1 | 2015 |
| Manchester City | Premier League | 6 | 2017/18, 2018/19, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 |
| Manchester City | FA Cup | 2 | 2018/19, 2022/23 |
| Manchester City | League Cup | 5 | 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 |
| Manchester City | Community Shield | 3 | 2018, 2019, 2024 |
| Manchester City | UEFA Champions League | 1 | 2022/23 |
| Manchester City | UEFA Super Cup | 1 | 2023 |
| Manchester City | FIFA Club World Cup | 1 | 2023 |
| Napoli | Italian Super Cup | 1 | 2025 |
| Total club trophies | 25 | Includes domestic and international super cups | |
| Belgium | FIFA World Cup third place | 1 | 2018 |
| Individual | PFA Players’ Player of the Year | 2 | 2019/20, 2020/21 |
| Individual | Premier League Player of the Season | 2 | 2019/20, 2021/22 |
| Individual | Premier League Playmaker of the Season | 3 | 2017/18, 2019/20, 2022/23 |
| Individual | German Footballer of the Year | 1 | 2015 |
Club trophies reflect honours won during his time in each club’s
squad, including competitions whose final he missed through injury.
International placings and individual awards are excluded from the
club trophy total. Individual awards shown are selected major honours.
Updated 8 October 2026.
Happy in Naples
There have been suggestions that De Bruyne is not entirely happy in Naples and never has been. But Sosa is having none of that.
Instead, he insists any form of unhappiness stems from what happened during his return to Manchester City.
“De Bruyne has no issues with the city; he is happy in Naples—otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed,” he added.
“Last season, Conte wanted to prove that he was the ‘prima donna,’ when in fact it was De Bruyne who should have felt that way. Kevin came to Naples to be a key figure.
“But instead, he encountered a personality like Conte, who told him: ‘Look, to me, you’re no different from the right-back.’
“De Bruyne is still getting over that disappointment in Manchester, where Conte decided to substitute him after just 20 minutes when Napoli were reduced to ten men. It isn’t fair to the fans. But I feel compelled to defend Kevin, because he is a special player.”
