'It's not pleasant' - Romelu Lukaku warns Kevin De Bruyne about 'downside' of Napoli transfer

After a glittering career at Manchester City, which spanned a decade and brought numerous trophies, De Bruyne departed England at 33 and now embarks on a new chapter in Italy. While Lukaku is thrilled to see De Bruyne join the reigning Serie A champions, he reminded his Belgian compatriot that life at Napoli brings with it unique pressures and a passionate fan base that can be both uplifting and intense.

De Bruyne excused himself from participating with City in the Club World Cup, a sign that his time at the Etihad was truly over. However, his move to Napoli not only reignites his Champions League ambitions but also gives De Bruyne a chance to prove that he remains one of the game’s elite playmakers, even as he enters the twilight of his career.

Speaking to Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, Lukaku revealed that he had played a role in easing De Bruyne’s decision to join Napoli. The two had multiple conversations, including one while on national duty and another in which De Bruyne personally sought Lukaku’s advice.

“I’m happy he’s joining us. He’s exactly what Napoli needs to take the next step," the striker said. "We’ve just become champions, and we don’t just want to defend that title – we want to improve as well. I spoke to him a couple of times while on national team duty, and he also called me once. I explained how things work here. I also told him where he could look for a place to live and things like that. Dries [Mertens] and I did our best to convince him, and Kevin made the right choice.”

Lukaku praised the passionate fan culture but also issued a pointed warning about the expectations placed on players.

"A Napoli player receives a lot of love. I’m happy that Kevin will get to experience that," he added. "Playing football in Italy is incomparable – there’s a kind of passion you don’t see elsewhere. But there’s also a downside… I’ve played at clubs where fans would show up at training when things weren’t going well. It’s not pleasant but it makes you realise you have to give everything, every single day."

Napoli’s acquisition of De Bruyne is seen as a statement of intent. After claiming the Serie A title, the club is aiming to make an even greater impact in Europe under Antonio Conte's leadership. Nonetheless, De Bruyne’s transition from the bright lights of the Premier League to the passionate cauldron of Italian football will be closely followed by fans.