Kevin De Bruyne sent word of warning in scathing attack by Italian media after Manchester City exit | OneFootball

Sections of the Italian media have made their feelings known about Kevin De Bruyne causing a threat to Naples’ beloved Scott McTominay.

De Bruyne joined Napoli on a free transfer in June after Manchester City bosses told the 34-year-old that he is not part of the club’s plans beyond his contract, which allowed the Belgian to have his pick of clubs and move to Italy.

The six-time Premier League winner has made a strong start to life in the Serie A, scoring a series of crucial goals in his early months with Napoli and providing two assists for former Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund in his side’s 2-1 UEFA Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday evening.

Antonio Conte played a key role in convincing De Bruyne to make the move to Naples this summer, with the playmaker understood to have spoken with Belgium teammates Dries Martens and Romelu Lukaku on life in Italy before making a decision on his future.

Three months into the 2025-26 season however, whilst it has gone to plan so far on the pitch for De Bruyne with the Italian champions, certain sections of the Italian media have not been best pleased with the arrival of the former Manchester City man.

De Bruyne’s arrival in Naples can inadvertently seen Scott McTominay – former Manchester United midfielder and the pride of Naples – be shifted to the left side of Conte’s attack, which has so far limited the Scot’s productivity in the attacking third this season.

Conte was furious with De Bruyne seemingly expressing his displeasure when he was taken off for Billy Gilmour in Napoli’s 2-1 defeat to AC Milan last week, with certain sections of the Italian press making their feelings known in a scathing attack at De Bruyne and how he has derailed McTominay from showing his best form this term.

SportMediaSet published a splash with a headline: ‘KDB is causing problems for McTominay’, with the report reading: “Despite the three goals scored (one from a free-kick and two from penalties), KDB (Kevin De Bruyne) hasn’t exactly brought out the best in the team’s play.

“In fact, has forced Antonio Conte to change the balance. For example, by moving McTominay wide on the left into a position on the pitch that limits his effectiveness in front of goal.”

Calciomercato journalist Eleonora Trotta added:  “After the praise for De Bruyne for the Champions League match in Manchester, everything changed. There’s an issue. Both due to the substitution and the controversy, and because of his impact. His arrival negatively affected last year’s championship factor, Scott McTominay,” as quoted by Sport Witness.

Alessio Lento said: “McTominay is Napoli’s biggest problem at the start of this season and not through his fault, but because of where he’s being positioned.”

It’s safe to say that the people of Naples hold Serie A MVP McTominay very close to their hearts and De Bruyne will have to keep his head down and win them over with his world-class displays on the pitch – as he did against Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Champions League this week.