De Bruyne's Renaissance: Has City Really Let Go of a World-Class Maestro?

Veteran playmaker Kevin De Bruyne continues to defy the narrative that age is a hard stop in football. After leaving Manchester City on a free transfer to Napoli this summer, he has started the season in explosive fashion, prompting a wider question: did Manchester City misjudge the value of his genius?

De Bruyne has earned acclaim across Italian media and beyond, with descriptors ranging from “legendary” to “on another level.” Those assessments underscore a familiar truth: a player who helped win 16 titles and more than 400 appearances for City remains a unique threat when placed in the right system.

City’s recent season has been about transformation — a remodel that saw veteran stalwarts moved on, including the likes of Ederson Moraes, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan, and Kyle Walker. De Bruyne, at 34, was among the high-profile exits, marking a symbolic end of an era at the club that once trusted him as its creative engine.

De Bruyne’s decision not to sign a new deal at City preceded his move to Napoli, and he has spoken openly about his surprise at the timing while stressing his belief in his own ability to perform at the highest level. His arrival in Italy came with no bitterness, only a professional readiness to embrace a new challenge.

In April/April’s public remarks about City’s decision, De Bruyne said, “I was a bit surprised, but I have to accept the decision. Honestly, I still believe I can perform at this level as I’ve shown, but I understand clubs must make their decisions.” The subsequent weeks validated that self-assessment, as his early numbers began to tell a compelling story.

De Bruyne, now 34, has quickly proven that the move was less about decline and more about a shift in environment that suits his strengths. He joined Napoli with a punctuation mark on his career’s next chapter, even if he hadn’t initially wanted to leave the Etihad Stadium behind.

Best Start to a Season in De Bruyne’s Career

The Belgian maestro opened the 2025-2026 campaign with dazzling form, highlighted by a double in a recent World Cup Qualifier against Wales, which Belgium won 4-2. His current tally across Napoli and Belgium stands at 11 goal contributions in 12 appearances, a figure that places him among the most productive midfielders of the early season.

Only in 2019-2020 and 2023-2024 did De Bruyne surpass this level of early-season impact, recording 15 and 13 contributions respectively in the first 12 matches. Those numbers point to a player who remains in peak form, even as he negotiates a new league and new teammates in Italy.

City’s Regret? A Misread Destiny Not a Slide in Form

While De Bruyne’s numbers have remained strong, City’s start has been solid rather than spectacular: six wins, two draws, and two losses in the opening 10 fixtures. Guardiola leaned on fresh midfielders — Tijani Reinders and Ryan Cherki among them — to shoulder the creative load previously shouldered by De Bruyne.

One memorable moment came against Napoli at the Etihad, a match that saw De Bruyne briefly return to his old home before an early red card forced him out of the spotlight for the night. Still, De Bruyne’s statistical profile suggests he remains a central figure in decisions about how a team can construct and finish chances, outpacing most City midfielders apart from a compatriot close to his level, such as Doku.

Far from a retirement-spot, De Bruyne’s departure signals a managerial miscalculation more than a fall from grace. He’s still capable of driving play, delivering decisive passes, and shaping a game’s tempo with his characteristic precision.

Physically, De Bruyne looks as sharp as ever. After some injury-hit seasons at City, he has returned to a level of fitness that allows him to influence games week in and week out. In Napoli’s setup, he started five of six league games, starring as a creative engine and coming off the bench when needed.

Regarding his Napoli start, De Bruyne told reporters that he feels “in great shape, playing a lot and enjoying top-level fitness.” The early signs suggest that the move could unlock a sustained run of elite form rather than a short-term spike in performance.

On the World Stage: A Possible New World Cup Chapter

On the international stage, De Bruyne has featured in three World Cups with Belgium and remains a vestige of what was once a golden generation. Former Belgium coach Roberto Martinez once called him “the most creative playmaker in world football,” a title that has not faded with time. Since Martinez’s departure and the arrival of new leadership, including Rudi Garcia’s decision to strip De Bruyne of the captaincy, the Belgian setup has shifted — a change that has not dampened De Bruyne’s impact on the field.

Garcia stressed that the link between Belgium’s “golden generation” and its younger cadre must be a bridge, not a barrier, and De Bruyne responded by posting a quick-fire return to form with five goals in four matches under Garcia’s watch. Belgium now leads their qualifying group, edging closer to a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance in a tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 2026. De Bruyne, who will celebrate his 35th birthday mid-tournament, shows no sign of slowing down as he continues to be one of football’s defining playmakers.

In Napoli and with Belgium, De Bruyne’s ongoing story is less about age and more about adaptability, intelligence, and a deftness of touch that keeps him ahead of the curve. If the coming months confirm this trajectory, City’s decision will be remembered not as a retirement story, but as a bold fork in a career that remains very much alive and clicking at a high level.

Punchlines: If De Bruyne keeps cooking at Napoli, City might have to start selling memories of his assists as a premium souvenir. And if football ever needs a life hack, Guardiola should install a tiny De Bruyne statue in the training ground—so the rest of the squad can learn by osmosis how to thread a pass through a thicket of defenders. If nothing else, it would save a lot of post-match explanations: “He did it again.”