Manchester City wary as Kevin De Bruyne returns with Napoli

As Kevin De Bruyne prepares to make an emotional return to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night, it barely matters that a promised statue of the former Manchester City midfielder is yet to be erected.

Admiration for the 34-year-old Belgium international, now plying his trade for Serie A champions Napoli, has long since been set in stone in the east corner of Manchester. 

City manager Pep Guardiola was visibly moved when De Bruyne bade the club an emotional farewell last season after an unforgettable decade that brought 422 appearances, 108 goals and 16 major trophies. 

But the tears have long since dried, and Guardiola has vowed to put aside the feelings that will inevitably accompany De Bruyne’s return as the club hosts Antonio Conte’s Napoli in the Champions League on Thursday night. Given that the Belgian has already scored twice in three games for his new employer, both times from dead-ball situations, that would seem wise.

What did Pep Guardiola say about Kevin De Bruyne’s Manchester City return?

“After the game,” Guardiola replied with a wry smile when asked if he was looking forward to being reunited with his former charge. 

“Of course, it’s nice for him to come back. I’m not surprised [by De Bruyne’s encouraging start in Italy]. Players at that level adapt so quick; players at that level, they don’t need much time to adapt and perform well.

“He has [given Napoli] his incredible talent, vision, passing, goals in the final third. He is unique.” 

If the Spaniard sounded wary, he has just cause. It is hard to think of De Bruyne as having anything left to prove in Manchester, and yet, for all the warmth and conviviality of his parting, it was clear the club’s decision not to award him a new contract did not sit well with him.

What did Kevin De Bruyne say about leaving Manchester City?

“It’s basically more business-wise for them, they just made a decision based on that,” De Bruyne said when the decision was made public in April. “It was not really a long conversation, it was just what they told me, and then there’s nothing. I have to accept the situation, even if I feel like I can still do a good job. 

“Obviously, I was a bit surprised, but I just have to accept it. Honestly, I still think I can perform at this level, like I’m showing.”

It would nonetheless be wrong to cast De Bruyne’s return to his spiritual home as a revenge mission. It has been only 120 days since the departing Belgian stood on the Etihad pitch and declared: “Manchester is home.” 

The emotions of that afternoon, and all that preceded it, will still feel relatively raw and, as De Bruyne made plain before Belgium’s World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan earlier this month, the experience will not be easy.

“I know it will be strange,” said De Bruyne. “City is my club, and that will never change.”