"I asked Kevin a few things," Conte said. "He was part of Man City for 10 years and had a great coach like Pep Guardiola. Kevin will be excited, but hopefully after kickoff, he will rediscover his form and remember he's playing for our great Napoli."
This summer, De Bruyne joined Napoli on a free transfer. The 34-year-old midfielder just finished a successful 10-year stint at Man City, which included a Champions League title, six Premier League titles, 422 appearances, 108 goals, and 177 assists. According to experts, De Bruyne is not only a legend at the Etihad Stadium but also the best midfielder in Premier League history.
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De Bruyne and Conte converse during Napoli's 2025 summer tour. Photo: *Napoli* |
On 18/9, De Bruyne will face Man City again when Napoli visits the Etihad for their Champions League group stage opener. Despite having their former player, Conte isn't overly optimistic. According to the Italian coach, Man City is still stronger and a title contender.
"We come here with humility after a great year," Conte added. "We consider ourselves almost like students competing against our teachers. That's not wrong. We want to compete against strong teams to see how much we've improved."
Besides De Bruyne, Conte also signed two other players who have played in England: Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund. The acquisition of McTominay in 2024 was a major success. After arriving from Man Utd for 34 million USD, the 28-year-old midfielder scored 13 goals in 36 matches, helping Napoli win the Serie A title and earning the Player of the Season award.
Conte recognized McTominay's potential while managing Chelsea and Tottenham. When the opportunity arose, he immediately brought him to Napoli. "At first, I couldn't believe we'd get him. We are really pleased with him," Conte said.
Following the success with McTominay, the Italian coach then signed Hojlund on loan with an option to buy from Man Utd. In his debut last weekend, the Danish forward scored a goal to help Napoli defeat Fiorentina 3-1. "Hojlund has great potential," Conte said. "I have to help him develop and become a top striker."
Thanh Quy (via ESPN)
