Napoli seal De Bruyne deal as Marseille and De Zerbi miss out | OneFootball

A new market backstory sheds light on the negotiation that last summer brought Kevin De Bruyne close to joining Napoli. According to the sporting director of Olympique Marseille, Mehdi Benatia, the French club also made a determined attempt to sign the Belgian playmaker, identifying him as the ideal reinforcement for Roberto De Zerbi's technical project.

Napoli, De Bruyne backstory: De Zerbi's Marseille tried, but Napoli had already closed the deal

The statements came during an interview with RMC, later picked up by L’Équipe, which reconstructed the developments of those hectic weeks. A backstory that confirms how highly sought-after De Bruyne was, not just in Italy.

Marseille's interest: Benatia's account

Benatia recounted the direct contact with the midfielder:

“I had spoken with De Bruyne, I wanted to meet him. He was a free agent. I thought that with the coach, Roberto De Zerbi, he could be an interesting solution. But he was already too far along in negotiations with Napoli.”

An admission that clarifies two fundamental aspects:

Marseille had identified De Bruyne as a strategic acquisition, a technical leader to complement De Zerbi's offensive project.

Napoli had outpaced the competition, having already reached an advanced stage of negotiations when the French club tried to intervene.

Why De Zerbi wanted him: the perfect profile for his style of play

De Zerbi's interest is not surprising. De Bruyne, with his ability to refine, lead the play, and impact the final third of the field, represents one of the ideal players for the positional and vertical football that the Italian coach has been advocating for years.

His vision of the game, accustomed to high tempos and leadership on the field, would have made him a perfect addition for a Marseille in construction and in search of an international reference figure.

Napoli's role: swift negotiation and clear strategy

The backstory reveals a decisive element: Napoli had set up the negotiation with timing and determination, getting ahead of the competitors. The Azzurri club worked discreetly but effectively, convincing the player through:

a technical project centered on him,

the prospect of a leadership role,

the opportunity to experience a new adventure as a protagonist after his years at Manchester City.

An advantage built week after week, sufficient to render Marseille's attempt to intervene futile.

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