Napoli, De Bruyne: Best choice for me, many offers, on Conte, Lukaku | OneFootball

Napoli, De Bruyne: "Coming here was the best option for me, I had many offers! On Conte, De Laurentiis, and Lukaku..."

Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli's midfielder, has given a lengthy interview to "Corriere della Sera".

De Bruyne, can you explain why someone like you, highly rated and highly paid in the best league in the world, chose Italy?

When City decided not to renew my contract, I started looking around, after a long time I didn't want to stay in England anymore. Among the various possibilities, Napoli seemed the best for my family and for me as a footballer. In Serie A I can still play at high levels.

Was Napoli the only real offer?

No, the best option. There were many offers, but I chose the champions of Italy, they play in the Champions League, and then Conte is a magnificent coach. When you are young you decide only for yourself, now I also asked my children, the oldest is 10 years old and is in an important phase of growth.

How is Conte seen up close? All the players he has coached are struck by his method and mentality.

Different, both in technique and method from Guardiola. Conte knows how to build a compact team, like a single block. He demands a lot from the group and if you don't work for the team you're out. He makes very clear demands, the more you play with him the more you understand what it takes to stay at a high level. Here everyone knows they have to work hard and do their job, otherwise someone else will take their place. This raises the intensity and the overall level.

Napoli started with a win and a goal from you. What do you expect from this season?

The victory is a good start, but there's no point in thinking about what will happen in three or four months. We know this is a great group capable of fighting for the title, but we are not alone. We want to move forward in Europe and in the Italian Cup, but maintaining consistency in three competitions is not easy, especially since the club already won the championship last year: repeating is more difficult.

Just a game: do you choose the championship or the Champions?

Very difficult! I have never won the championship, I was lucky to win the Champions, it would be nice to win the Italian title for the first time. I don't want football to become a "normal job". If you live it with pleasure and with a smile, in the end you play better. Championship or Champions? I've already won the Champions...

How much does Napoli lose without the injured Lukaku?

A heavy loss for us. But a great team must be able to find solutions, when someone gets hurt others must be ready. Lucca can take advantage of this opportunity: he can grow, score and become important.

You're 34 years old, full maturity or sunset boulevard?

I think I'm more or less the same as 10 years ago. Maybe when you're young you're more dynamic, now I have more experience. You evolve as a player: I have my qualities, people know them, but also my weaknesses, like everyone. I'm not worried or excited: I just try to do my job the best I can, having fun. Football is my passion and I don't want it to become a "normal job". If you live it with pleasure and with a smile, in the end you play better.

What can Modric, 39 years old, give to Milan?

Everything. He's had an incredible career and still feels capable of playing at a very high level. When a player brings his experience, the group can only improve. Luka is not the youngest, neither am I, but we can give something different. He can convey what he learned in Spain or England. I can do the same: there's a different philosophy in the Premier and I can explain how it works there, thus helping my teammates.

Your first childhood memory related to football.

The 1998 World Cup: England-Argentina and Owen's goal. He was my idol, I was about 7 years old and it was at that moment that I fell in love with football.

What were you like as a boy?

Reserved, I'm still like that. If I feel comfortable I can also be funny. I'm fine with friends and family, in my space. I need calm around me, being with the family, seeing my two children playing football. I still need to get used to Naples. In private life, I seek serenity to face the frenzy of football.

What kind of family was yours?

Housewife mother, my father worked in a factory, nothing special. I left home at 14 to move to the other side of Belgium and live with a foster family, just to play football. It was a tough decision for them; now, as a father, I understand. If in a few years my son asked me to leave, it wouldn't be easy. Today dad works with me, helps me with investments.

How has becoming rich changed your life?

A lot, it would be hypocritical to say otherwise. Playing football, being in the spotlight, earning a lot of money: it changes everything. Also the context around you, and it's the flip side of the coin. For example, my wife is often at home alone with three children, it's not easy. We live at a different level compared to a normal family, but I try to educate my children in the right way. It's clear that now they don't understand the difference between our lifestyle and what my wife and I had when we were young. One day they will have to understand it.

Is De Laurentiis as complicated as they say on the contractual side?

During the negotiation I think I spoke to him only once in a video call. The director Manna came to me and explained the project. The club and the lawyers take care of contractual issues. I just play football.

Which is the most equipped team in Serie A?

Inter has more continuity than the others, and has value. I faced them in the Champions League final. But I think that in Italy there are several teams capable of competing at high levels, even Milan can be dangerous, despite the false start: they have the advantage of focusing only on the championship.

A virtue and a defect.

I speak four languages: English, French, German and Dutch. I can understand a bit of Italian. The defect? I need to plan, organize. Sometimes it becomes rigidity.

Do you have a plan for Napoli?

I want to be the best player possible, have fun and win. I don't like losing".

Carlo Gioia

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