Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne revealed on Saturday how compatriot and long-term national teammate Romelu Lukaku played a role in his move to Italian club Napoli.
De Bruyne is raring to go at Serie A champion Napoli after not being offered a contract extension by Manchester City, and said linking up with Lukaku was part of the appeal.
“Romelu was happy (about the move), I spoke with him in the national team (camp), he wanted me to join. I know Romelu since we were 13-years-old, so we are really tight together. When we played in Chelsea we lived together for two or three months,” the former City player told reporters.
“It makes it a little bit easier that I know him because he is somebody who can translate for me and it helps because he knows the coach, he knows the team.”
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Regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, De Bruyne ended a glittering decade-long spell at City at the end of last season and joined Napoli on a free transfer last month.
“I have been in the Premier League for so long and in the end I made the decision to go out of England,” De Bruyne told reporters on Saturday.
“I have done what I have done and in the end I am a Man City player for life. It was also with the way that it ended for me, I thought, it is time to find a new challenge.
“When I had the whole project in front of me and then the fact that I could play in Italy and still play at a high level was exciting for me.”
De Bruyne, who turned 34 last month, said he had much to learn in Italy, but with polyglot Lukaku by his side, the learning curve looks far less steep as he adjusts to Antonio Conte’s side.
“Napoli already are champions but they are still improving their squad… I am hoping that I can help the team grow and I will also learn from them, a new way of playing, a new competition,” De Bruyne added.
Napoli begins its 2025–26 Serie A campaign on August 13 with a trip to Sassuolo.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com