“I’m not going to give him any space” – Manchester City star issues warning to Kevin De Bruyne ahead of Napoli clash | OneFootball

Kevin De Bruyne will ‘not be given any space’ by one of his former Manchester City teammates when Napoli visit the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night.

The clash marks the beginning of City’s Champions League campaign, and all eyes will be on the Belgian midfielder, who made the high-profile move to Naples during the summer after being released by Etihad officials following the expiry of his contract last season.

His return to Manchester for the very first fixture of the new European season has created a storyline rich in nostalgia, drama, and intrigue, with supporters eager to see how Pep Guardiola’s squad cope against their former talisman.

For Guardiola, the challenge extends beyond sentiment with a daunting schedule ahead – including trips to Monaco, Villarreal, and Real Madrid, plus home ties against Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen – and a strong start against Napoli is essential.

Manchester City endured a mixed run of form during last season’s reformatted group stage and know that an early slip could add further pressure later in the campaign, ultimately exiting that particular season in a last-16 play-off tie at the hands of Real Madrid.

Napoli themselves arrive with renewed optimism under Antonio Conte, who has already made his mark on the squad both tactically and mentally, and the benefit of De Bruyne’s knowledge of City’s system and weaknesses adds an extra layer of tactical chess.

Speaking ahead of the clash on matchday one of the UEFA Champions League’s league phase, Rodri and Bernardo Silva spoke with Stadium Astro and were both quizzed on their reunion with the legendary Belgian midfielder.

“It’s going to be a special day for him, for us,” Rodri admitted, before warning, “But at the end, on the pitch we’re going to be opponents, so I’m not going to give him any space.”

The Spaniard continued, “I know his quality, and it’s a massively important game because I didn’t play this format before. And it seems very tough, so you have win every single game to have a good qualification. So the first game, always it’s important.”

Bernardo Silva also revealed, “I texted him right after the [league phase] draw, and I think the fans are actually going to sing more his songs than our songs, probably! He’s really happy.”

The Manchester City captain added, “We all say it’s destiny, he had to come back, first game especially in the Champions League, and it’s at home in Manchester.

“It could’ve been away in Napoli. No, it’s at home. It’s going to be good to have Kevin back in Manchester!”

What happens on the night could shape much of Manchester City’s early European campaign, and another statement win would not only silence critics, but also set the tone for the demanding run of fixtures to follow.

Defeat, however, would hand Napoli an early psychological edge and cast doubt on this current set of Manchester City players to bounce back from a difficult last season, and bring the club back to its former glories.

Either way, the reunion with Kevin De Bruyne guarantees an emotional evening at the Etihad Stadium, but whether the return is remembered as a triumphant homecoming or a nightmare for his old club will be decided under the lights.