Kevin De Bruyne’s highly anticipated return to Manchester City took a bitter turn on Thursday night. The Belgian playmaker, who had spent a decade with City and won 17 trophies, was back at the Etihad Stadium, this time donning the colors of Napoli.
However, his homecoming was abruptly halted when manager Antonio Conte pulled him off just 26 minutes into the match due to a tactical reshuffle after Giovanni Di Lorenzo received a red card in the 21st minute.
Leaving the pitch to a chorus of applause, De Bruyne was visibly frustrated. Conte expressed his own disappointment, stating, “I was sad to replace Kevin, both for myself and for him. Destiny played a cruel trick on us. Without that expulsion, the match would have been different.”
The early exit robbed De Bruyne of a chance to shine in front of the fans who once adored him.
The Napoli team, reduced to ten men, fought valiantly but succumbed to a goal from Erling Haaland in the 56th minute, followed by another from Jérémy Doku just nine minutes later.
De Bruyne’s Early Exit and Napoli’s Struggles
Conte lamented, “We had prepared well and were pressing high. But with ten men, it became impossible to maintain that strategy.” His mixed feelings reflected both the tactical challenges and the respect for his players’ efforts.
The match turned out to be a harsh reality check for both De Bruyne and Napoli. With the Etihad crowd in full voice, the stadium offered no mercy to the visiting side. The frustration of missing out on a glorious night weighed heavily on De Bruyne, while Napoli’s hopes of securing a positive result faded rapidly after the red card.
In the end, De Bruyne’s return to Manchester City was a stark reminder of the fickle nature of football. A night that promised a heartfelt reunion instead became a tale of disappointment, leaving both player and team to reflect on what might have been.
The Etihad Stadium, known for its electrifying atmosphere, proved to be anything but welcoming on this occasion.
Kevin De Bruyne was subbed off vs. Man City in the 26th minute following Giovanni Di Lorenzo's red card.
Man City fans still stood up and applauded him as he left the pitch 🩵 pic.twitter.com/ivobuWBrDv
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) September 18, 2025
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