De Bruyne's proud response after Garcia took his armband | OneFootball

The story has sparked debate: Kevin De Bruyne, who returned to Napoli after his commitments with the Belgian national team, is no longer the captain of the Red Devils. This was a decision made by former coach Garcia, who chose to give the armband to Tielemans, leaving out Lukaku as well.

Belgium, Kevin De Bruyne, the pride of the leader: this is how he responded after Garcia took away the armband

Napoli, De Bruyne: “I feel in shape, but I still need to sort out a few things. About the captain's armband and Garcia…”

But the reaction of the number 11 in blue was that of the great champions.

The decision of Garcia and the reaction of De Bruyne

“Garcia took away the captain's armband, but the crown is still his”, writes Corriere dello Sport, highlighting how the midfielder was able to turn disappointment into positive energy. No controversies, no out of place words: De Bruyne responded on the field, scoring three goals in two games with his national team.

This ability to bounce back, to maintain high concentration and to be decisive again, is a testament to a character forged in years of football at the highest levels.

A return to Napoli as a protagonist

After ten years of enchantment at Manchester City and over a hundred days of sun and work in Southern Italy, De Bruyne is ready to lead Napoli in the most intense phase of the season. Goals? The championship, Europe and the cups. And, above all, the desire to make a mark with his new team.

Thursday will be the debut in the Champions League, but first a delicate away game in Florence: two appointments that will say a lot about the role that Kevin will have in Antonio Conte's team.

A champion who doesn't need symbols to matter

The armband is a symbol, but leadership is measured on the field. Garcia chose Tielemans for reasons of continuity and perspective, but De Bruyne has shown that his value does not depend on an armband: three quick goals, played like a superstar, and the confirmation of being the technical and mental reference of the group.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.