Kevin De Bruyne reveals the two key differences between Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte as ex-Man City star denies he is 'the king' of Serie A after Napoli move

De Bruyne signed for Napoli on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City this summer and already has a few minutes under his belt for the Serie A side, having featured in three friendly clashes for Conte's team.

The Belgian playmaker has played under some impressive names across his spells at Genk, Chelsea, Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg and City. Jose Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini and Dieter Hecking all had him under their wing before he teamed up for a long period of success with Guardiola at City. The 34-year-old spent eight years under Guardiola, winning multiple titles, including the Champions League in 2023. After the Premier League side decided against renewing his contract this summer, he opted to unite with Conte and ex-team-mate Romelu Lukaku in Serie A. After just a few weeks, he has already observed some key differences between his new coach and his old one.

In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, De Bruyne reflected on the differences between working under Guardiola and Conte: "I'd say they're two different ways of playing: Pep is probably a little more focused on ball control and possession, while Conte is a little more structured in his game and focuses a lot on mentality. Pep works more on the zonal area. There are a couple of different things, but every coach has his own principles and characteristics."

He was also asked about the grand welcome he received upon his arrival in Serie A, where some dubbed him "the king". 

"I'm not the king, I'm just a footballer," he said. "I don't pay much attention to certain things, I try to do my job as best I can, but obviously it's nice to be appreciated. I hope I can continue to have a great career."

De Bruyne will make his debut in Serie A soon and hopes to secure the Scudetto with Napoli. The veteran playmaker is also eyeing a Champions League run under Conte.