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Kevin De Bruyne has spoken openly about the difficulties he faced during his debut season with Napoli, admitting that he is relieved by manager Antonio Conte’s departure. The Belgian midfielder struggled to adapt to the Italian coach’s rigid tactical setup and has now discussed the stylistic clashes that defined their brief period together at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Tactical friction at the Maradona

The dynamic between an inventive playmaker and a tactically conservative coach was always likely to be tense, and De Bruyne’s stint under Conte proved no different. The Belgian joined Napoli in the summer of 2025 on a free transfer after a legendary decade with Manchester City, where he captured every major title, including six Premier League trophies and a Champions League medal. In an interview with Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, the Napoli star spoke candidly about why he found it difficult to reach his usual world-class standards in his first Serie A campaign.

“I actually thought it was quite good in the beginning, and even when I came back, it was still at a good level,” De Bruyne explained. “It was tough for me because Conte sees football in a completely different way than I do; there’s no point pretending otherwise.”

A clash of footballing philosophies

De Bruyne’s main frustration stemmed from how he was used in Conte’s setup and the overall defensive approach favoured by the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager. The system, focused heavily on structure and discipline, restricted his attacking creativity and limited him to just 21 appearances across all competitions. A recurring hamstring injury further disrupted his season, though he still managed to contribute five goals and four assists. Despite those numbers, it was a personally disappointing year for the 34-year-old playmaker.

Reflecting on his role, De Bruyne said, “I was never really able to play in my natural position. That’s just how it was. I always gave everything. I played quite a lot, even after my injury, so for me, it’s actually fine.”

He added, “We play very defensively. If you only score one goal per match in a 5-4-1 formation, that’s not ideal. At the start of the season, we also played really deep. Our top scorer only has 10 goals, so yes, the statistics aren’t great, but in terms of performance and football, I thought it was okay.”

Relief at Conte’s departure

With Conte leaving Napoli by mutual agreement at the end of the season after guiding them to a second-place finish, De Bruyne made no effort to hide his relief. The Belgian international appears re-energised by the possibility of a new tactical approach, hinting that the atmosphere had become strained under the previous regime.

When asked directly if he was happy to see Conte go, De Bruyne replied candidly: “Am I happy that Conte is leaving? For me, yes. As far as I’m concerned, he didn’t have to stay.”

Uncertainty over Napoli future

Despite the managerial change, De Bruyne’s future with Napoli remains uncertain. With only one year left on his current contract, the midfielder is seeking clarity from the club before committing to another season in Italy, particularly after his challenging first year.

Addressing questions about his future and potential contract extension, De Bruyne said he wants to understand the club’s direction before making a decision. “Will I stay? I think it’s important to have a conversation about the style of play,” he said. “I’ve realised this year that playing style matters a lot to me. It has to remain enjoyable, and unfortunately, I’ve missed that at times. I still have a year left on my contract, but I want to talk. Last year, things were said like, ‘We’re going to play in a certain way, we’re going to do this and that,’ but little of that happened, and that’s a pity.”