Napoli, De Bruyne: the tireless Belgian leader hits 32 km/h for the Azzurri | OneFootball

Time seems to leave him untouched. At 34 years old, Kevin De Bruyne continues to redefine the standards of athletic efficiency and tactical intelligence. The Belgian midfielder, now the new beacon of Antonio Conte’s Napoli, managed to reach a top speed of 32 kilometers per hour during his last match with the national team, against North Macedonia.

Napoli, De Bruyne, the “veteran” who flies at 32 km/h with Belgium: the tireless Azzurri leader

A statistic that amazes not only because of his age, but also for the consistency with which the former Manchester City player manages to maintain elite physical and mental levels.

The “tour de force” as training: De Bruyne’s philosophy

As reported by La Repubblica, De Bruyne has turned fatigue into an ally. Instead of fearing closely scheduled matches, he uses them as an opportunity to consolidate his condition and improve his endurance.

“The more he plays, the more he grows,” writes Marco Azzi. This is the golden rule that the Drongen-born star already applied during his time at Manchester City, and which he has now brought to Napoli. During the international break, after his performance against Macedonia, he flew to Wales, where he led Belgium with a brace and a display as an absolute leader.

De Bruyne thus confirms himself as a model of professionalism and resilience, able to inspire even the youngest teammates, at a time when Napoli is preparing to play seven matches in twenty-two days between league and cup competitions.

Conte’s Napoli and the new tactical formula to unleash De Bruyne

According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, Antonio Conte is studying a new tactical setup to enhance the qualities of his number 17. The Apulian coach is experimenting with a dynamic 4-1-4-1, designed to give De Bruyne and the Scotsman Scott McTominay freedom to make runs forward.

“McTominay was allowed to drift slightly to the left, where he already built offensive plays during the title-winning season,” the analysis reads. “De Bruyne, on the other hand, seeks space elsewhere, like a dowser: he always knows which corner of the pitch his talent can spring from.”

In this structure, the Belgian can move across the entire attacking front: drifting between the lines, spreading out to the right, or dropping back alongside the deep-lying playmaker to build up play. It’s a controlled freedom that Conte intends to exploit to increase Napoli’s fluidity and unpredictability.

An experienced leader for an ambitious Napoli

After ten years at Manchester City and 19 trophies won, De Bruyne has lost neither motivation nor ambition. He has come to Napoli to lead a young group towards new achievements, and the numbers confirm it: runs, accelerations, pressing, and vision of play remain those of an absolute champion.

For Napoli, who must defend their top spot in the standings and manage a packed schedule, the presence of the Belgian is much more than a technical asset: he is a point of reference, an experienced guide both on and off the pitch.

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