Napoli is on the verge of acquiring a super-sized asset.
Italian transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio reported on the 11th (Korean time) that "Kevin De Bruyne's move to Napoli has progressed further. The negotiations have now entered the final stages. There are no financial or footballing issues. Only the decision of De Bruyne's family remains."
Napoli is preparing for a major acquisition that combines skill and experience in hopes of returning to the UEFA Champions League next season. In particular, since the appointment of head coach Antonio Conte, the club has accelerated its efforts to restructure the team. In De Bruyne's case, he has already formalized his departure from Manchester City after the season and hopes to remain in Europe, making a transfer without a transfer fee align with Napoli's ambitions. Napoli is said to have proposed a contract including a two-year deal and a signing bonus.
Napoli's plan to strengthen its squad isn't limited to one star. Director General Giovanni Manu traveled directly to Manchester to meet with De Bruyne's representatives, and candidates for bolstering the attacking line include Darwin Núñez of Liverpool, Jonathan David, whose contract with Lille is expiring, and Samu Omorodion of Porto.
Lee Kang-in has also been included on the list as a creative second-line resource. The media rated him as "a potential resource with creativity, despite some inconsistency this season." In reality, Lee Kang-in's position at Paris Saint-Germain has drastically diminished. He had a decent start to the season with 6 goals and 6 assists, but since the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, he has remained on the bench for the last four games and was excluded from the roster for both the semi-finals. Most of his appearances in league matches have been as a substitute in the second half. There are analyses suggesting he might have been left out of head coach Luis Enrique's plans.
Moreover, Lee Kang-in recently deleted the word 'PSG' from his Instagram account and has not posted any club-related content for about two months, lending weight to the possibility of a transfer. Of course, the removal of other introduction items, such as 'South Korea,' does not allow for definitive conclusions, but it is hard to deny that there are signs of change.
Furthermore, De Bruyne, one of Napoli's top targets, has also moved toward Napoli. There are indications that De Bruyne is positively considering Napoli. His partner, Michelle Lacroix, was recently spotted looking at real estate in Napoli, which has been interpreted as a sign that specific negotiations have entered a concrete phase. Napoli is also a city that the De Bruyne couple frequently visited due to past connections with Dries Mertens.
De Bruyne has recently declared his departure from Manchester City. He announced on social media last month that "this season will be my last few months as a Manchester City player. It's not easy to write this, but it is a situation that every player must face someday. Manchester will forever be a name remembered by our family."
De Bruyne also expressed, "Like it or not, it is now time to say goodbye. Manchester will remain in our family's heart forever, not just on our passports," adding, "This place will always be our home. I cannot express enough gratitude to this city, the club staff, my teammates, friends, and family for sharing this journey over the past 10 years."
Born in 1991, De Bruyne is among the legends who will remain in Premier League history. Since donning the Manchester City jersey in 2015, he has recorded 6 Premier League titles, 1 UEFA Champions League title, 2 FA Cup victories, and 5 EFL Cup championships alongside head coach Pep Guardiola. He contributed to a 'treble' in the 2022-2023 season.
Head coach Guardiola has also continued to show affection for De Bruyne until the end. On the day the departure was announced, he remarked, "It's a sad day," and paid tribute to De Bruyne as the greatest player he has seen in the Premier League.
The sudden departure of De Bruyne was Manchester City's decision. De Bruyne confessed, "I didn't receive any offers all year, and Manchester City made the decision. I was obviously a bit surprised, but I have to accept it. Frankly, I still believe I can play at the highest level, just as I have now."
He has not ruled out remaining in the Premier League. In response to a question about whether his career in England has come to an end, De Bruyne said, "I don't know. The decision to leave Manchester City was made not long ago. I haven't seen my family since then. After talking with them, I will see which team wants me," adding, "There is always a challenge. I don't know what will happen next season."
In particular, De Bruyne has already formalized his departure from Manchester City after the season and hopes to remain in Europe, making a transfer without a transfer fee align with Napoli's ambitions. Napoli is said to have proposed a contract including a two-year deal and a signing bonus.
De Bruyne's choice is not to remain in the U.S. or England. Di Marzio noted that "Napoli and De Bruyne have reached an agreement on salary. Now, only the player's and his family's decision remains." He added, "If the family's final decision is made, he will head to Napoli. He will likely be Napoli's first acquisition."
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