Manchester City star, Kevin De Bruyne, is reportedly on the verge of a move to Serie A champions Napoli after reaching a verbal agreement with the Italian club, according to fresh reports from Italy.
Set to become a free agent this summer, the 33-year-old midfielder will leave City following the expiration of his contract in June, with the Premier League side opting not to offer a renewal.
Despite his age, De Bruyne remains confident in his ability to perform at the highest level and has not ruled out the possibility of staying in the Premier League.
Interest in the Belgian playmaker has been high, with Premier League outfit Aston Villa and Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire already expressing concrete interest.
However, Sky Sport Italy now claims that De Bruyne has “given his okay” to Napoli, signalling his readiness,alongside his family’s,to relocate to Italy.
While an official contract agreement is still pending, Napoli, fresh from clinching the Serie A title with a 2-0 win over Cagliari on the final day of the season, appear to be in pole position to secure the midfielder’s services.
During the Scudetto celebrations, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis was quizzed on the potential deal and said: “Let’s not start making indiscreet demands. We are working to make an even stronger and more competitive team without taking anything away from those who are extraordinary and we will add others of the highest level.”
Napoli forward Romelu Lukaku, who partners De Bruyne in the Belgium national team, was also asked whether he’d spoken with his compatriot about joining Antonio Conte’s squad. With a knowing smile, Lukaku simply replied: “No comment.”
Following City’s shock defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final last weekend, De Bruyne opened up about the role his family will play in determining his next move.
“Everything has to fall into place, for my family and for myself. When you’re 20 years old and making a decision it’s easy, you can move to another country and it’s not a problem,” he said.
“I want to take the best decision for my kids, for my wife, with school, living, things that you need to think about. I’ll take that decision whenever I’m ready and comfortable so that’s the most important thing, finishing these two games and then after making a decision but it’s not that easy. I have to take care of my family and my kids and my wife. It’s not an easy process.”
With Napoli eager to reinforce their squad under Conte, the possibility of De Bruyne bringing his elite experience to Naples could soon become a reality.
