Sky journalist questions De Bruyne’s Napoli commitment after penalty miss

Ugolini says Napoli must address De Bruyne’s situation

Sky Sport Italia journalist Massimo Ugolini has questioned whether Kevin De Bruyne is fully committed to Napoli, saying the midfielder’s situation may need to be resolved as early as January.

“Missed penalty aside, De Bruyne doesn’t seem to have, at the very least, the attitude of someone who made the right choice in coming to Napoli,” Ugolini wrote on Sky Sport Insider, according to Il Napolista. He added that the matter “needs clarifying quickly” and said decisions should protect the club’s interests, arguing it would make little sense to keep “a player of his calibre at half capacity.”

De Bruyne came on as a substitute in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Venezia, where Filip Stankovic saved his penalty. The Belgian had also clashed with Massimiliano Allegri during Napoli’s 3-1 Champions League defeat to Villarreal the previous week.

Ugolini points to wider problems at Napoli

Ugolini stressed that De Bruyne is not the only concern, citing what he described as “an almost non-existent transfer window, a worn-out group, a string of injuries,” discontent among players with expiring contracts, questionable coaching decisions and “the Lucca flop.”

He also noted that club president Aurelio De Laurentiis has remained silent, suggesting that could reflect a desire not to repeat the errors of the 2023-24 campaign. Napoli changed coaches three times and finished 10th that season after winning the title the previous year.

Napoli have taken 10 points from seven games, their worst start since Roberto Donadoni’s side in 2009-10. They are due to host Bodø/Glimt on Tuesday before welcoming Roma on Saturday.