🔥 KDB: Napoli top pick, Maradona’s 10 surprises, Conte, CL, my role 👀 | OneFootball

On the third day of their summer training camp in Dimaro, Napoli will officially present to the press their first signing of the summer session: Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgian superstar will speak today at 3 PM from the stage of the Teatro Comunale in Dimaro, answering journalists' questions and kicking off his new adventure in the blue shirt.

🔵 KDB and the Napoli Choice

"From a competitiveness standpoint, it's the best place for me, I have the chance to show my qualities. Napoli are champions of Italy, they've shown all their qualities. It's very different compared to England, but that excites me even more. I have the desire and the quality to be competitive at this level. The climate is different from England and I wanted to prove I could play at the highest level. When Manna came to show me the project, I was thrilled, I believe Napoli was the best choice for me."

🧨 KDB and Serie A

"There are many teams with a lot of quality in this league, but our goal is to do well on all fronts. We hope to finish as high as possible in the league and have a great run. I need to see how I adapt to the team, things are quite different in Napoli compared to what I was used to at Manchester City. It's a new experience for me, at a high level, and I'm excited about it. I've just arrived and I have time to adapt, I'm very calm."

🫵 Farewell to City and Napoli

"I spent a lifetime in the Premier League, then I made the decision to leave. I will always be a Man City player at heart, but that experience is over and I was looking for a new challenge. This project gives me the chance to play at a high level, the project shown by the club proves that there's a desire to invest here. We've already made 4-5 new signings, laying the foundations for the future. I'm not that young anymore, but I think I can contribute to the team's growth and I will also learn from the team. I haven't had the chance to watch much Serie A in the past, but now I will."

🇧🇪 Lukaku and Mertens

"I called both Lukaku and Mertens to get their opinions about the city and the team. They gave me information, but in the end, it was my decision, made together with my family. Romelu was very happy when he found out I was coming here. I've known him since we were 13, it's a close friendship, we even lived together at Chelsea for 2-3 months when we were in London. I know Romelu, he's someone who already knows the coach and the team, but I repeat, it was 100% my decision and I have no regrets."

🔟 About Maradona's Number 10

"I was a bit surprised to be honest because I knew Maradona's number had been retired. It was a nice gesture from the club. But I don't think it gives me more responsibility, also because when you play for a big club like Napoli, there's already pressure. Here, the desire is to win and the pressure is there, the number doesn't change anything. Maradona is a legend, he made history, I'm proud of that but I'm De Bruyne and I want to be myself. I want to put in great performances to bring joy to the fans."

👀 Intrigued or Surprised?

"It was the first time in my career that I found myself in such a situation, it's the first time I've moved to another club on a free transfer. As time went on during last season, I started to feel stressed. Napoli presented their project, as did other clubs. This project is very different in terms of lifestyle and competitiveness compared to what I was used to. Napoli was the best choice for me. Everything is different here, there's the sun, but I'm a footballer and I want to be competitive and perform, I want to prove I can be like that, I want to show my qualities, I still have to prove what I'm capable of."

👔 Conte and Guardiola

"I haven't spoken much with the coach yet, we've had a couple of training sessions where we've talked, but only on the pitch. I know him because he coached Chelsea and Tottenham in the Premier League, even though back then he played with a back five and it's different from our current system. I know he's very tactical. The fact that a coach of this caliber, one of the best of the last ten years, is here is a great sign. I think I can learn a lot from him, but so far we've only had two sessions. Now I'm looking around, seeing what the team does. I think I'll be ready at the start of the season, I'm using this time to see how the team works, how the coach and staff work, in 5-6 weeks I'll be ready."

🏆 Importance of the Champions League

"It's important because the Champions League is one of the most beautiful competitions in the world. It was known that Napoli would qualify because they were fighting for the league. I've played in the Champions League for ten years, I can't wait to play in it with Napoli. Let's hope we have a great run."

🧠 On His Role

"I don't think the role is that important because positions on the pitch are studied before the match itself, everything depends on the interpretation of space, also the tactical posture of both us and our opponents. 4-3-3, 3-4-3 are formations, but it depends on whether we have possession or not. Football is very dynamic, it changes. I wouldn't know which position would be best."

🗣️ Neapolitan and the Fans' Affection

"I haven't learned any particular Italian or Neapolitan words yet, but I can understand a bit and say a few words, and I intend to take Italian lessons with my wife, because I think it's important to learn the local language. When I'm ready, I'll do interviews in Italian too, but give me some time."

About the city

"It's hard to say, also because as a person I'm different from Dries, I'm more introverted. I spend a lot of time with my family, but surely there will be times when I go out in the evening and go to dinner. It'll be up to me to adapt to this situation. Nine years ago I was with Dries, even before I got married, I took a tour of the city and saw the difference in how people treat footballers, the difference compared to how Manchester City players are treated. The love, the enthusiasm, the passion that these people have for the team is incredible. Sometimes it's a bit much, but it's affection, and at the base there's love and as long as there's love, it's all good."

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