De Bruyne's disputes with Napoli players hasten his winter departure

Internal crises rock De Bruyne's relationship with Napoli

Kevin De Bruyne swapped Manchester City for Napoli in the summer of 2025, but the Belgian star has yet to settle at his new club.

According to Mundo Deportivo, De Bruyne has blown hot and cold over recent months. Now the Italian press are floating the prospect of a January exit.

A serious muscle injury in October 2025 wrecked his first season, and a strained relationship with former boss Antonio Conte did little to help matters.

Things have picked up slightly this season under Massimiliano Allegri. Yet "Il Mattino" claim that fallouts between De Bruyne and several team-mates in the dressing room could speed up his departure.

His contract runs until June 2027, but reports suggest he could be gone as early as the winter window.

This is not simply down to the problems already outlined. Napoli themselves may be ready to wave him off at the right moment.

The club are struggling both in Serie A and in Europe, and they need to act in January to patch up the structural holes in Allegri's squad. That could force the hierarchy to weigh up whether keeping De Bruyne until the summer is worth it.

Word is that both parties could yet reach an agreement over his exit.