A special moment awaits at the Etihad on Thursday night as a Manchester City legend returns | OneFootball

The last time Kevin De Bruyne was on the pitch at the Etihad came after Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth in their final home game of the 24/25 season. Following that match, De Bruyne said goodbye to the Manchester City fans in a fitting tribute for arguably City’s greatest ever player. It was a special moment that paid homage to a player who gave everything to Manchester City.

This summer saw Kevin De Bruyne sign for Napoli on a free transfer. From the moment De Bruyne signed for the Serie A champions, it seemed like fate that he would play against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League. That moment comes on Thursday night as Pep Guardiola’s side kicks off their UEFA Champions League league phase campaign against Napoli. De Bruyne will play against his former team, and that will be a special moment in itself.

It doesn’t feel right to know that Kevin De Bruyne will play against Manchester City.

With everything Kevin De Bruyne gave to Manchester City, it doesn’t seem right that he will play against the club on Thursday night. The romantic notion was that De Bruyne would retire as a City player. With all he achieved at the club, that would have been the perfect ending to an illustrious City career. But football doesn’t work that way. Manchester City needed to continue their rebuild last summer, so they let De Bruyne leave the club. It was a decision that had to be made, and it showed the brutal side of football. But seeing De Bruyne play against the side he gave everything to just won’t feel right.

Kevin De Bruyne will also have a point to prove on Thursday. The City legend will be determined to show the City hierarchy that they made the wrong decision to let him leave the club. De Bruyne felt he had more to give at the highest level. He has begun the 25/26 season strongly for Napoli. De Bruyne has scored two goals in three appearances for his new club. So he is in form for the clash with City at the Etihad.

Kevin De Bruyne will receive a hero’s welcome from the City fans.

There is no doubt that Kevin De Bruyne will receive a reception fit for a club legend from the City fans on Thursday night. That will be a special moment in itself. As much as it won’t feel right to see him play against Manchester City,  the reception he receives will be fit for a king. He has more than earned that, and when it occurs, if it actually stops, it will be a special moment in itself.

As the game plays out, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see De Bruyne smash a strike into the top corner from 25 yards out, or pick apart the Manchester City defence with a trademark De Bruyne pass. It’s almost written in the script that he will. If that occurs, so be it. You can’t begrudge De Bruyne having that moment against the team he went above and beyond for. Seeing Kevin De Bruyne play against Manchester City won’t feel right. But his return to the Etihad will be a special moment, and it is a sub-plot to watch for before and during the game itself on Thursday.