Latest news with #RomeluLukaku
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
De Bruyne embracing fresh start at Napoli after Man City departure
NAPLES, (Italy): Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is raring to go at Serie A champions Napoli after not being offered a contract extension by Manchester City, and said linking up with compatriot Romelu Lukaku was part of the appeal. Regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, De Bruyne ended a glittering decade-long spell at City at the end of last season and joined Napoli on a free transfer last month. "I have been in the Premier League for so long and in the end I made the decision to go out of England," De Bruyne told reporters on Saturday. "I have done what I have done and in the end I am a Man City player for life. It was also with the way that it ended for me, I thought, it is time to find a new challenge. "When I had the whole project in front of me and then the fact that I could play in Italy and still play at a high level was exciting for me." De Bruyne, who turned 34 last month, said he had much to learn in Italy, but with Belgium teammate and polyglot Romelu Lukaku by his side, the learning curve looks far less steep as he adjusts to Antonio Conte's side. "Napoli already are champions but they are still improving their squad... I am hoping that I can help the team grow and I will also learn from them, a new way of playing, a new competition," De Bruyne said. "Romelu was happy (about the move), I spoke with him in the national team (camp), he wanted me to join. I know Romelu since we were 13-years-old, so we are really tight together. When we played in Chelsea we lived together for two or three months. "It makes it a little bit easier that I know him because he is somebody who can translate for me and it helps because he knows the coach, he knows the team." Napoli begin their 2025–26 Serie A campaign on August 13 with a trip to Sassuolo. — REUTERS
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
De Bruyne embracing fresh start at Napoli after Man City departure
BELGIAN midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is raring to go at Serie A champions Napoli after not being offered a contract extension by Manchester City, and said linking up with compatriot Romelu Lukaku was part of the appeal. Regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, De Bruyne ended a glittering decade-long spell at City at the end of last season and joined Napoli on a free transfer last month. 'I have been in the Premier League for so long and in the end I made the decision to go out of England,' De Bruyne told reporters on Saturday. 'I have done what I have done and in the end I am a Man City player for life. It was also with the way that it ended for me, I thought, it is time to find a new challenge. 'When I had the whole project in front of me and then the fact that I could play in Italy and still play at a high level was exciting for me.' De Bruyne, who turned 34 last month, said he had much to learn in Italy, but with Belgium teammate and polyglot Romelu Lukaku by his side, the learning curve looks far less steep as he adjusts to Antonio Conte's side. 'Napoli already are champions but they are still improving their squad... I am hoping that I can help the team grow and I will also learn from them, a new way of playing, a new competition,' De Bruyne said. 'Romelu was happy (about the move), I spoke with him in the national team (camp), he wanted me to join. I know Romelu since we were 13-years-old, so we are really tight together. When we played in Chelsea we lived together for two or three months. 'It makes it a little bit easier that I know him because he is somebody who can translate for me and it helps because he knows the coach, he knows the team.' Napoli begin their 2025–26 Serie A campaign on August 13 with a trip to Sassuolo - REUTERS
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
De Bruyne will rely on Belgium teammate Lukaku for more than just goals at Napoli
Kevin De Bruyne is going to rely on Romelu Lukaku for more than just goals at his new club Napoli. He also wants translation help from his long time Belgium teammate. De Bruyne called Lukaku and former Napoli and Belgium standout Dries Mertens to feel out what the southern club was like before signing for the Italian champion.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
De Bruyne will rely on Belgium teammate Lukaku for more than just goals at Napoli
Kevin De Bruyne is going to rely on Romelu Lukaku for more than just goals at his new club Napoli. He also wants translation help from his long time Belgium teammate. De Bruyne called Lukaku and former Napoli and Belgium standout Dries Mertens to feel out what the southern club was like before signing for the Italian champion. 'I was speaking with (Lukaku) in the national team and he wanted me to join,' De Bruyne said at his presentation at Napoli's training camp in the Dolomites on Saturday. 'I know Romelu since we are 13 years old. So we are really tied together. When we played in Chelsea we lived together for like two-three months. 'So it makes it a little bit easier that I know him because he's somebody who can translate a little bit for me and who can help me around because he knows the coach, he knows the team,' De Bruyne added. Lukaku led Napoli with 14 goals last season and also won Serie A under current Napoli coach Antonio Conte at Inter Milan in 2021. Maradona's No. 10 De Bruyne was unexpectedly given a training kit featuring Diego Maradona's No. 10 on it for his first practice session at Napoli. 'I was a bit surprised in the beginning because obviously I knew that the number was retired but in another way it's an honor,' De Bruyne said. 'It's an honor from the team and from the club to give me this responsibility.' During the presentation though, De Bruyne was given a shirt bearing No. 11. 'Maradona is Maradona. He's synonymous with Napoli,' De Bruyne said. 'I'm my own player. I am 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.' Proving his level Having turned 34 last month, De Bruyne's contract was allowed to run out at Manchester City, where he won a boatload of trophies. 'I had lots of offers in Europe and America and Saudi (Arabia),' De Bruyne said. He chose Napoli because it was the best fit in terms of competitiveness. 'I still feel I am able to get a good level out of myself and I'm here to prove that I can do that,' De Bruyne said. Man City for life Known as one of soccer's most complete midfielders, De Bruyne was named the best player in the Premier League for the 2019-2020 and 2021-22 seasons. In 10 seasons at City, he helped the English club to six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League trophy. 'I'm a Man City player for life,' De Bruyne said. 'With the way that it ended for me it's time to find a new challenge, and I think when I had the whole project in front of me, and then the fact that I could play in Italy and still play at a high level, was exciting for me.' Midfield mates With De Bruyne teaming up with freshly crowned Serie A player of the year Scott McTominay and passing wizard Stanislav Lobotka, Napoli could have one of the strongest midfields in the world. 'We still have Frank (Andre-Frank Anguissa) and then Billy (Gilmour) — they're really good players and it's not about what we do with three players. It's about what we do all together," De Bruyne said. "And we're going to play a lot of games so it's going to be interchangeable anyway.' ___ AP soccer:
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
De Bruyne embracing fresh start at Napoli after Man City departure
Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is raring to go at Serie A champions Napoli after not being offered a contract extension by Manchester City, and said linking up with compatriot Romelu Lukaku was part of the appeal. Regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, De Bruyne ended a glittering decade-long spell at City at the end of last season and joined Napoli on a free transfer last month. "I have been in the Premier League for so long and in the end I made the decision to go out of England," De Bruyne told reporters on Saturday. "I have done what I have done and in the end I am a Man City player for life. It was also with the way that it ended for me, I thought, it is time to find a new challenge. "When I had the whole project in front of me and then the fact that I could play in Italy and still play at a high level was exciting for me." De Bruyne, who turned 34 last month, said he had much to learn in Italy, but with Belgium teammate and polyglot Romelu Lukaku by his side, the learning curve looks far less steep as he adjusts to Antonio Conte's side. "Napoli already are champions but they are still improving their squad... I am hoping that I can help the team grow and I will also learn from them, a new way of playing, a new competition," De Bruyne said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Mindef, SAF units among those dealing with attack on S'pore's critical information infrastructure Asia How China's growing cyber-hacking capabilities have raised alarm around the world Asia At least 34 killed as tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam's Halong Bay Singapore 1 dead, 1 injured after dispute between neighbours at Yishun HDB block Singapore Vessels from Navy, SCDF and MPA to debut at Marina Bay in NDP maritime display Asia Autogate glitch at Malaysia's major checkpoints causes chaos for S'porean and foreign travellers Asia SIA, Scoot, Cathay Pacific cancel flights as typhoon nears Hong Kong Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore "Romelu was happy (about the move), I spoke with him in the national team (camp), he wanted me to join. I know Romelu since we were 13-years-old, so we are really tight together. When we played in Chelsea we lived together for two or three months. "It makes it a little bit easier that I know him because he is somebody who can translate for me and it helps because he knows the coach, he knows the team." Napoli begin their 2025–26 Serie A campaign on August 13 with a trip to Sassuolo. REUTERS
