Even after leaving Manchester City, the sky blue remains the same. Kevin De Bruyne (34) is headed to Napoli.

According to Italian journalist Nicolo Schira on the 1st (Korea time) through his social media, "The transaction is complete! De Bruyne will join Napoli as a free agent (FA). The contract period is until 2027, and there is also an option to extend for one more year until 2028."

Earlier, he noted, "Napoli is confident they will be close to signing De Bruyne in early June. The principle is to contract until 2027 with an option to extend until 2028. De Bruyne will become the highest-paid player at Napoli."

According to Schira, De Bruyne received love calls not only from Napoli but also from several other teams. The new Major League Soccer (MLS) team, Chicago Fire, and other European teams made significant offers to him. However, after much consideration, De Bruyne seems to have chosen the move to Napoli.

Napoli succeeded in winning the Serie A title this season, surpassing Inter Milan. After finishing in 10th place last season, they reclaimed the Scudetto two years later under the guidance of new coach Antonio Conte, where Kim Min-jae performed well in the 2022-2023 season. Now, Napoli is eyeing not only De Bruyne but also Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) among several players to maintain their reign.

'Foot Mercato' in France also reported, "Napoli has completed the signing of De Bruyne! Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of Napoli, is not a person who makes nonsense. A few days ago, he stated that De Bruyne is highly likely to join Napoli soon, and a promise is a promise."

The media explained, "The Belgian genius De Bruyne became a free agent after ending his career at Manchester City. He is expected to settle at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium (Napoli's home ground) in the coming days unless an earthquake occurs," adding, "According to Sky Sports Italy, relevant documents are expected to be delivered to his lawyer on Sunday. Medical tests are already prepared."

Specific contract details have also been revealed. On the 25th, European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano noted, "De Bruyne is in discussions for a three-year contract with Napoli. The total salary over the three years, including contract bonuses, is expected to reach 27 million euros (approximately 42.4 billion won)."

He also stated, "The recently verbally agreed amount has been modified due to tax issues. The total contract amount, which reaches a net profit of 25 million euros (approximately 39 billion won) to 27 million euros, and the third-year contract option that Napoli can activate remain unchanged. However, depending on the tax situation, the salary distribution method may change in favor of the player."

De Bruyne is among the legends that will be remembered in the history of the Premier League, beyond Manchester City. Since joining Manchester City in 2015, he has recorded six Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League (UCL) title, two FA Cup titles, and five English Football League Cup (EFL Cup) titles. His career statistics include 422 matches, 108 goals, and 177 assists.

However, De Bruyne's 10-year journey with Manchester City is coming to an end. He played his farewell match for Manchester City against Fulham on the 26th. De Bruyne was substituted in at the 40th minute of the second half and said goodbye to the fans. He has announced that he will not participate in the club World Cup scheduled for June, making this match his last.

The sudden farewell was Manchester City's decision. De Bruyne confessed, "I did not receive any offers throughout the year, and Manchester City made the decision. I was clearly a bit surprised, but I have to accept it. To be honest, I still think I can play at the highest level like now."

De Bruyne's next destination has attracted the attention of many fans. It has been reported that not only Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Saudi Pro League but also major European leagues have sent him love calls. De Bruyne mentioned that he would discuss it with his family, keeping the possibility of remaining in the Premier League open, but he is now on the verge of wearing a Napoli uniform.

Meanwhile, Manchester City plans to create a special statue for De Bruyne as he departs. On the 21st, Manchester City announced through the club's website, "The club plans to create a special statue to honor De Bruyne's dedication to the club over the past 10 years, commemorating his brilliant career at the Etihad."

De Bruyne stated, "This means I will always be a part of this club. I will be able to see my face whenever I return with family or friends. I will always be here," referring to his feelings about the statue's confirmation.

So far, the legendary players for whom Manchester City has created statues include Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Sergio Agüero, Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee, and Francis Lee. Their statues still guard the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City introduced, "In 2021, two iconic statues honoring former captain Kompany and Silva were unveiled. Both played a crucial role in establishing Manchester City as a top team for over a decade. In 2022, a dedicated statue for Agüero, the club's all-time top scorer, was erected, and in 2023, statues honoring three legendary figures who served Manchester City for 30 years from 1960, Summerbee, Lee, and Bell, were built."

[Picture] 365 Scores, Backpost UK, Manchester City social media.

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