Overview

• De Bruyne was substituted in the 72nd minute of Sunday’s defeat to AC Milan after scoring a 60th‑minute penalty and left the pitch visibly frustrated, appearing to gesture toward Antonio Conte.
• Conte later backed his in‑game calls, saying he wanted fresh one‑on‑one options and warning that frustration should be about the result rather than his decision.
• Former Napoli director Pierpaolo Marino called De Bruyne “a problem for Conte,” arguing his presence is affecting Scott McTominay’s productivity and that his impact has mainly come from penalties.
• The 34‑year‑old has three goals for Napoli so far, with two from the spot, and has been taken off in four of his six appearances since joining on a free transfer.
• In a fresh outing on Wednesday, De Bruyne started against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League and assisted Rasmus Hojlund’s opening goal.