Kevin De Bruyne has decided to speak out. And it's not just a small detail. The day after Napoli's draw at San Siro against Inter, the Belgian midfielder broke his silence to put an end to the rumors that had begun circulating insistently in recent weeks: an alleged lack of interest in Napoli's sporting affairs and even the possibility of a transfer to an Arab club as early as the January transfer window.
He did so from Belgium, in Middelkerke, during the Golden Boot ceremony that saw him inducted into the Belgian Football Hall of Fame. It was a celebratory setting, but also the perfect opportunity to publicly reiterate his position: De Bruyne is focused on his recovery and on Napoli, because only by returning to competing at the highest level can he present himself at the World Cup in the condition a champion of his caliber demands.
The Belgian has been sidelined since October 25th, when he injured himself during the first leg of Napoli-Inter, after scoring a penalty. Since then, Antonio Conte has been without his key player, but his recovery is proceeding according to plan.
"I'll have a CT scan tomorrow, the rehabilitation is going very well. I hope to be able to start running again soon," De Bruyne explained. "The operation was necessary, now I'm completely focused on this journey. I'm happy with how things are going, I couldn't ask for better."
At the center of everything is next summer's World Cup. A goal that inevitably hinges on one thing: returning to the pitch at the highest level with the Napoli jersey. "I hope to be back at my best for the World Cup, in the best possible condition," he reiterated, dismissing the idea of a final stage of his career spent away from top-flight football.
It's no coincidence that when asked about a possible return to Belgium, his response was clear: "If I ever come back, it would be to have fun and stay close to home. But that's not on my mind right now. I still want to test myself and discover my limits. I'm happy at Napoli now."
These words sound like a direct denial of the biased interpretations of recent weeks. De Bruyne isn't thinking of a golden escape to Arabia or a gradual withdrawal: his present is Napoli, and his immediate future lies in only one possible trajectory, one that leads from a return to the pitch to his ultimate goal, the World Cup.
For a champion of his stature, the only way is to continue playing — and competing — where the level is highest.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
The article discusses Kevin De Bruyne and his injury, but it's unclear whether he'll be ready for the World Cup. Napoli's situation is complicated, and rumors of a possible transfer to Saudi Arabia are worrying. Let's hope he returns to play.