There is a De Bruyne case

De Bruyne clashed with Napoli striker Lucca during Champions League loss to Porto, symptom of growing tension in the squad under Allegri.

Napoli's season has unravelled under Max Allegri, sitting mid-table and 14 points behind leaders Lazio. The squad is struggling to find a collective identity, and tensions are boiling over.

During the Champions League match against Porto—which Napoli lost 4-1 away—De Bruyne and striker Lucca had a heated exchange late in the game. The Belgian midfielder rebuked Lucca for a piece of play, and the Italian's response escalated into an animated argument.

Matteo Politano's post-match comments hinted at broader friction: "I wish sometimes other teammates would come and speak, not always us Italians." There have been other incidents too, including Fisayo Dele-Bashiru's provocative behaviour toward the Maradona crowd during the draw with Lazio.

De Bruyne, who arrived from Manchester City two summers ago to great fanfare, feels he is giving his all but the spark has not fully ignited. He believes his ideas are keeping the team afloat, yet expectations placed on him are so high that some think he alone can reverse the negative momentum—a dynamic that strains the professional relationship.

With Napoli's morale in freefall and De Bruyne earning €6 million per season, speculation is growing about an early departure in January rather than waiting for his contract to expire in June 2027.