Kevin De Bruyneâs emotional Etihad return lasted just 25 minutes as Napoli boss Antonio Conte sacrificed him following Giovanni Di Lorenzoâs red card in a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Manchester City. Conte admitted both he and De Bruyne were left âdisappointedâ after cutting short his appearance on a night City striker Erling Haaland made more history.
Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has finished ahead of big names such as Arsenal's Declan Rice, Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham in the 2025 Ballon dâOr rankings. The Scotland international is ranked in 18th place after a stellar season that saw him score 12 Serie A goals and help deliver the Scudetto for Napoli.
The Ballon d'Or. Love it or loathe it, it's the award every footballer in the world dreams of one day winning. And now, after a memorable 2024-25 campaign, the winner of the 2025 Golden Ball has been announced: Ousmane Dembele.
Napoli head coach Antonio Conte has claimed that his side are not a well-oiled machine after they registered a slender 3-2 win over Pisa in Serie A last night. Although Gli Azzuri sit comfortably at the top of the league table having won all four of their games, such a statement from the Serie A winner comes as a shock after their latest win.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has issued one of his starkest warnings to European football. Calling todayâs game âtoo slow, outdated, and destined to die,â he argues young audiences are tuning out of a sport stuck in the past. From pushing a 16-team Serie A to free-to-air broadcasts, he insists football must reinvent itself with bold reforms before collapsing under its own weight.
Rasmus Hojlund has opened up on his admiration for Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and the hard work that has driven his career. The Napoli striker, back in Serie A after two seasons at Manchester United, highlighted Erling Haaland and Viktor Gyokeres as the worldâs best behind CR7. Hojlund also reflected on his early sporting life, and ambitions at Napoli.
Rasmus Hojlund has revealed he plans on staying at Napoli after joining the Serie A champions from Manchester United in an initial loan transfer. After ending an unsuccessful period at Old Trafford at the end of the summer transfer window, the Danish striker is off to a strong start on his return to Italy and is feeling comfortable in Antonio Conte's side.
Antonio Conteâs Napoli have adapted seamlessly to Kevin De Bruyneâs arrival and Romelu Lukakuâs injury, with Fabio Capello praising the Italian tactician and his AC Milan counterpart Max Allegri. Napoli reshaped their attacking approach around the Belgian star, while Conteâs flexibility contrasts with Allegriâs composed style with Sundayâs Milan clash promises a tactical showdown and Serie A spectacle.
Kevin De Bruyne scored a second-half penalty to get Napoli back in the game against AC Milan before being subbed off by Antonio Conte in their first Serie A defeat. The Belgian looked frustrated as he walked off and went straight to the bench without acknowledging Conte. The coach said the decision was to bring fresh legs, adding he hoped De Bruyneâs displeasure was with the result, not him.
Liverpool weren't the only European team to lose their 100 percent record this weekend. Over in Italy, Napoli slipped to second in the Serie A table after being beaten 2-1 by a Christian Pulisici-inspired AC Milan at San Siro.
Antonio Conte has warned Kevin De Bruyne that he will not escape punishment if he has another angry reaction to being substituted after the Napoli playmaker was taken off in the weekend's 2-1 loss to AC Milan. The Italian coach insists the issue has been resolved as he insisted his sentiments were aimed at the entire squad.
AC Milan took to social media to share a picture of actors Jared Leto and Jodie Turner posing with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Hollywood duo attended Milanâs game against Napoli as part of the promotion for their upcoming movie. It was a star-studded night that ended in delight for the Rossoneri, who claimed all three points against Napoli and moved to the top of the table.
Former Napoli chief Pierpaolo Marino has criticised Kevin De Bruyne, accusing the ex-Manchester City maestro of "stepping on Scott McTominay's toes" and hindering the Scot's impact. Marino also added that De Bruyne's current level at Napoli is nowhere near enough to warrant a comparison with the ageless Luka Modric, who has been off to a sensational start for AC Milan.
Rasmus Hojlund produced a statement performance for Napoli in the Champions League, scoring twice against Sporting CP and celebrating by pointing to the competitionâs badge. The on-loan Manchester United striker seemed to send a message to his parent club, who are enduring a season without European football under Ruben Amorim, which has not been going down well in Manchester.
Napoli coach Antonio Conte admitted he is still trying to find the right tactical measures to bring the best out of midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay. In the 2-1 win over Sporting CP, Conte tested a three man midfield in the second half following the substitution of McTominay, and he believes the system can offer him multiple solutions.
Former striker Fernando Llorente has praised Antonio Conte as an "extraordinary" coach but revealed his one major regret from his time working with the Italian at Juventus. Llorente spent two years at the Bianconeri and won back-to-back Serie A titles, but it was their failure to deliver in the Champions League that haunts the Spaniard as he reflects on playing under Conte.
Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed that "there is no problem" between him and his Napoli head coach Antonio Conte. The former Manchester City midfielder expressed his anger after being taken off in the 72nd minute of Napoli's 2-1 loss to AC Milan over the weekend, prompting Conte to fire a warning and stating that "if he was upset about something else he's got the wrong person."
Benjamin Sesko got himself on the scoresheet and helped Manchester United register their third Premier League win of the season, with the Slovenian receiving a congratulatory message from the man he was brought in to replace. Indeed, Rasmus Hojlund, who has been in fine form on loan at Napoli, took to social media and expressed his happiness at the Red Devils' frontman's exploits.
Rasmus Hojlund continues to make Manchester United question their decision to let him leave Old Trafford during the summer transfer window, with the Red Devils outcast netting another crucial goal for Napoli in what is quickly becoming a productive loan spell. The Denmark international grabbed a match-winning effort for the reigning Serie A champions in their clash with Genoa.
Napoli manager Antonio Conte has broken his silence on his decision to bench star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne in the 2-1 comeback win over Genoa, stating the two have a good understanding. The move, which came days after a visibly frustrated De Bruyne reaction against AC Milan, sparked rumours of a rift between the two, but both men have since put those whispers to rest.
Antonio Conte-managed Napoli want to sign a new right-back in January and, in a shocking turn of events, it is understood that Brentford full-back Michael Kayode is on their shortlist as the manager searches for depth behind Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Rasmus Hojlund has lauded the impact Antonio Conte is having on him now that he is playing for Napoli. The Dane has a new lease of life back in Italy, having previously played in Serie A for Atalanta, and netted in his team's 2-1 win over Genoa at the weekend. Ex-Manchester United teammate Scott McTominay has been a similar beneficiary of the much-travelled coach.
Former Real Madrid and England manager Fabio Capello hailed Antonio Conte bringing Rasmus Hojlund to Napoli as a "clever decision" as the Manchester United flop's "desire for redemption" is becoming evident. After being included in Ruben Amorim's 'bomb squad' in pre-season, the Danish forward completed an initial loan move to the Italian champions late in the transfer window.
Victor Osimhen has revealed that he was pressured into signing for Napoli in 2020 while his father was dying, claiming agents and club officials forced the transfer without his consent. The Nigerian striker said he had no access to a draft of his contract and felt ignored during negotiations led by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis and Lille officials. He recounted the story to authorities amid an ongoing capital gains probe.
Neymarâs camp have approached both Napoli and Inter ahead of a potential free January move, but both Italian clubs have already turned down the chance to sign him. The Brazilian forward, who will be out of contract at the end of 2025, is determined to return to top-level football as he eyes a Brazil recall for next yearâs World Cup.
Romelu Lukaku has shared a devastating revelation, claiming he and his brother Jordan were victims of an attempted âextortionâ in their efforts to bring their late fatherâs body from DR Congo to Belgium for burial. The Napoli striker explained that the ordeal has left him heartbroken, as the funeral will now take place in Kinshasa against their wishes.