Kevin De Bruyne sends out message after suffering surprise defeat to third-tier side on Napoli debut

De Bruyne made his debut for Napoli in a friendly clash against Serie C outfit Arezzo. The former Manchester City star started the match but was taken off at half-time as Napoli fell to a 2-0 defeat. Late goals in each half helped Arezzo secure a memorable result over their Serie A champions.

While the surprise loss has raised eyebrows, it’s important to remember that this was just a warm-up game for Napoli, and that is exactly what De Bruyne said in his positive message on Instagram. The Belgian is still regaining fitness after a couple of injury-hit seasons at Manchester City. Gli Azzurri's focus will now shift to building chemistry and momentum ahead of the new campaign.

Following the match, De Bruyne shared a brief but optimistic message on Instagram. “Very happy to make my debut today. Some good minutes for the legs. Let’s keep on working,” he wrote.

The Serie A champions will look to bounce back in their upcoming friendlies against Serie B side US Catanzaro and Ligue 1's Brest, as Antonio Conte continues to shape his squad. De Bruyne is expected to feature more prominently in the coming weeks. With time and fitness, the Belgian playmaker will aim to become a key figure in Napoli’s title defence this season.