Napoli accelerate talks with Kevin De Bruyne | OneFootball

De Bruyne weighs Italian opportunity as MLS watches on

Kevin De Bruyne is in no rush to cross the Atlantic. Despite serious interest from Major League Soccer clubs, the Manchester City midfielder is instead giving genuine consideration to a switch to Serie A, with Napoli emerging as a credible destination.

At 33, the Belgian international believes his level remains high enough to compete among the best in Europe. A move to Italy would not only keep him at the heart of elite football but also appeal on a personal level. Encouraged by conversations with friends Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku—who both flourished in Serie A—De Bruyne sees life in Italy as an enticing prospect for himself and his family.

Napoli have moved swiftly to explore this possibility. Club director Giovanni Manna recently held talks with De Bruyne’s representatives to present a concrete vision: a leading role as the team’s primary playmaker under newly-appointed head coach Antonio Conte. Both Conte and president Aurelio De Laurentiis are said to be in full agreement on the move, which they see as a rare market opportunity given De Bruyne’s potential free agency.

Napoli’s financial framework for the deal

However, financial realities remain a challenge. De Bruyne currently earns a reported €20 million gross per year at Manchester City. Napoli cannot match that figure. Preliminary discussions have outlined a prospective package in the region of €7 million net annually—boosted by Italy’s favourable tax regulations. This figure would bring his Serie A earnings closer in line with his current Manchester City net salary.

Photo: IMAGO

In addition to a signing-on bonus still under negotiation, Napoli are structuring an initial two-year contract with the option of a third. That option may become a key sticking point in talks. De Bruyne’s camp is understood to favour a guaranteed three-year deal to secure his long-term future. It is here that discussions could intensify in the coming days.

Timing key for both player and club

De Bruyne has not yet formally committed, but sources close to the situation suggest he has given a verbal green light to begin the negotiation process. He is understood to have asked his inner circle to finalise terms ahead of his summer break. The objective: to settle into a new club early and begin pre-season without delay.

“Kevin De Bruyne wants to resume the season with his new club, to prove, once again, that he remains one of the best midfielders in the world,” a source close to the player confirmed.

Napoli share that urgency. Club staff are aiming to fast-track talks with his representatives over the coming fortnight. A conversation between Antonio Conte and De Bruyne is already scheduled, highlighting how seriously the Italian giants are taking the proposal.

De Bruyne’s next chapter looms large

For De Bruyne, the decision isn’t just professional—it’s personal. His admiration for Mertens’ time in Naples, where the Belgian became a club legend, has influenced his thinking. Like “Ciro” before him, De Bruyne could be the next Belgian icon to light up the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

While MLS will keep knocking, Italy is pulling strongly at the heartstrings. And if Napoli can meet his demands, De Bruyne could soon be orchestrating the rhythm of Serie A from midfield, instead of packing his bags for America.