Kevin de Bruyne honoured to train in Diego Maradona's No 10 at Napoli: ‘No added pressure'

New York Times

5 days ago

Kevin de Bruyne says it is 'an honour' to be allowed to train for Napoli wearing Diego Maradona's iconic No 10 but insists it does not add extra pressure.
De Bruyne joined Napoli as a free agent last month after a decade at Manchester City, and was unveiled to the media on Saturday following his first week of pre-season training.
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The 34-year-old will wear the No 11 shirt in the coming season but, as a welcome gesture from the club, he has been training wearing Maradona's No 10 on his shorts.
Napoli retired their No 10 shirt in recognition of Maradona's remarkable spell in Naples from 1984 to 1991, during which he inspired them to two Serie A titles and the UEFA Cup — as well as winning the 1986 World Cup with Argentina.
'I would say I was a bit surprised in the beginning,' De Bruyne said, when asked about wearing Maradona's number.
'Because obviously I know that the number was retired. But in another way, it's an honour. It's an honour from the team and from the club to give me this responsibility.
'I don't think it adds any more pressure. I think the pressure comes from itself — if you play for big teams like Napoli, the pressure will be there. There's a team that wants to win, so you know what you have to do as a player, as a squad.
'But I don't believe that a number or anything else will add the pressure. Maradona is one of the legends of the game, and is synonymous with Napoli.
'Anyway, we know that, but I'm grateful. I'm proud. But I'm my own player.
'I'm going to try and do the job the best I can do, and hopefully I can bring pleasure to the team and to the city and to the fans, and get some good performances in that.'
De Bruyne said last season that he was 'surprised' not to have been offered a new deal by City despite helping his former club to 16 major trophies after joining from German club Wolfsburg in 2015.
He revealed it was 'stressful' facing the prospect of being a free agent for the first time and said the 'competitiveness' of Napoli's project, along with lifestyle considerations, convinced him to chose them over other suitors.
'It's the first time I've been in a situation where I was (a) free (agent) — I've always had a contract,' he said. 'So it was always easy for me [previously]. Every summer, I was just easy. I was good.
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'The longer the (2024-25) season went on with nothing going on, it was a bit stressful, because it's a very new situation.
'But then obviously Napoli came, some other teams came, and they presented their projects, and then I think there was a lot of difference in the projects.
'It was lifestyle, it was competitiveness, all different types (of considerations).
'And the Napoli project for me was all around the best option for me. Because obviously, I think the main thing is (the club's) competitiveness.
'But then obviously the lifestyle, the sun – it's very different than what I used to, but I'm still a football player I'm very competitive, and I think I'm still able to perform at a good level.
'So as long as I'm playing football, I want to get the most out of myself. And once a day will come that I feel I'm not able to do it, and maybe I will make another decision, but now we are 34, I still feel I'm able to get a good level on myself, and I'm here to prove that I can do that.'