Napoli’s difficult start to the season has created tension both on and off the pitch, with Massimiliano Allegri’s team struggling to establish a collective identity following the departure of Antonio Conte. The results have left the club trailing the leading sides in Serie A, while recent incidents have raised questions about the atmosphere inside the dressing room.
The most visible flashpoint came during Napoli’s 4-1 Champions League defeat against Porto, when De Bruyne became involved in an angry exchange with Lorenzo Lucca late in the match. The Belgian had criticised the striker’s movement during an attacking situation, prompting an exaggerated response from the Italian forward.
The argument was one of several moments that reflected the frustration surrounding the team. After the match, Matteo Politano also appeared to question why the responsibility of speaking to the media so often fell to the Italian players.
“I would like some of the other team-mates to come and speak from time to time, rather than it always being us Italians, but that’s fine,” Politano said.
There have been other signs of discontent, including Noa Lang’s provocative reaction towards Napoli supporters during the recent draw against Lazio. Taken together, the incidents have contributed to the impression of a squad struggling to deal with the pressure of its disappointing results.
De Bruyne could now become one of the central figures in the club’s January decisions. The former Manchester City midfielder arrived in Naples in the summer of 2025 to considerable excitement, but his time in Italy has not yet developed as expected.
His first season was disrupted by a serious hamstring injury that kept him out between October and March. There were also difficulties in establishing a full understanding with Conte, whose two-year spell at the club ended with the Belgian’s role and preferred position becoming subjects of discussion.
The arrival of Allegri has not yet provided the fresh start that either the player or the club might have hoped for. De Bruyne believes he is contributing as much as possible, and his creativity remains important to a Napoli side that has struggled to find solutions collectively.
However, the expectations surrounding a player of his stature are considerable. There is a feeling that too much responsibility has been placed on him to change the team’s direction, when the problems extend well beyond one individual.
His salary is another factor in the discussion. De Bruyne earns a reported €6 million per season, and the combination of his cost, the team’s performances and the uncertainty surrounding his role has prompted consideration of whether an early separation would suit both parties.
His current contract runs until June 2027, but a departure in January is now being discussed rather than waiting for its natural expiry.
De Bruyne has still made a significant contribution under Allegri, recording one goal and four assists in 11 Serie A appearances, as well as featuring in Napoli’s first four Champions League league-phase matches. His usefulness to the team is not necessarily in question; the concern is whether the situation can improve sufficiently to justify continuing the relationship.
Napoli’s immediate priority will be to calm the atmosphere and find a way to restore consistency. But if results and tensions continue in the same direction, De Bruyne’s future could become one of the major stories of the January transfer window.