2025 Scudetto winners Napoli have secured the services of Kevin De Bruyne on a two-year deal after the Belgian ace said goodbye to Manchester City following a stellar decade at the Etihad.
One of the best midfielders in European football history, De Bruyne picked up 10 trophies with the Sky Blues including six Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League medal, and he was four times the Manchester City player of the season.
Napoli boss Antonio Conte secured the 33-year-old’s signature under the nose of MLS clubs Chicago Fire and Inter Miami as, while De Bruyne must have been tempted to join Lionel Messi in Florida, he is keen to test himself at the highest possible level after being released by Manchester City, and Serie A fits the bill. He admits the Premier League club’s willingness to let him go came as a surprise, but this move may well be as good for De Bruyne and his new club as the transfer of Scott McTominay from Manchester United last summer turned out to be.
SBOTOP writer James, a lifelong Red Devils fan, expressed his concern when the Scot left Old Trafford for Naples; and now the Italian city has McTominay fever after a brilliant campaign, and the arrival of De Bruyne is another reason for the Partenopei fans to celebrate.
The Belgian legend arrived in Naples on Thursday and hoards of Napoli fans took to the streets to greet him, and they hope he can help their club to win a third Scudetto in four seasons. The pre-season Serie A 2025 betting odds say next season will be wide open with little to choose between Inter Milan and Napoli, and Juventus and AC Milan strong in the markets as well; but this type of signing can only be good for Conte’s men.
Inter source a Calhanoglu replacement
Napoli’s main rivals for the 2026 Scudetto could well be 2024 winners and 2025 runners up, Inter Milan and, in other Serie A 2025 news, I Nerazzurri are looking to strengthen their hand, with the belief that attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu might well be on his way after four successful seasons at the San Siro. The Turkey star has scored 28 goals in 128 games for Inter, making a successful transition after he impressed at AC Milan, but now he may be on his way to the Turkish league, with Galatasaray keen to bring the 31-year-old home.
The Turkish giants are prepared to pay 30m Euros for their target who has also attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League (who hasn’t?), and Inter would be happy to see a bidding war start to help them nudge closer to their hoped for price of 40m Euros.
If Calhanoglu does make his move then Inter have already identified a potential replacement in Lazio midfielder Nicolo Rovella, according to reports in the Rome press. The 23-year-old moved to Lazio from Juventus in 2023 on a two-year loan with an obligation to buy, and the Albiceleste would only be willing to let him go for a price north of 50m Euros.
He’s a central midfielder but with more of a defensive profile than Calhanoglu, with four senior caps already for Italy. But as Napoli transformed McTominay from a defensive midfielder to an all round player with plenty of goals in him, Inter boss Cristian Chivu may see some similar scope with the athletic Rovella.
Simone Inzaghi’s departure to the Saudi Pro League to join Al-Halil may have initiated a change of mind for another Inter star as is seems midfield ace Davide Frattesi has been told that he is central to Chivu’s plans next term. The 25 year old was used as a squad player by Inzaghi but he has delivered some standout performances when asked, and weighed in with some crucial goals. He’s another player who can potentially step into Calhanoglu’s shoes and the new manager will be keen to keep his options open.
Inter have just landed in the USA where they will compete in the 2025 Club World Cup and, while the club would love to pick up some of the generous prize money on offer, their fans will be keen to see their team recover from a disappointing end to the 2024/25 campaign. As well as missing out on the Scudetto, I Nerazzurri were slapped 5-0 in the Champions League final by Paris Saint-Germain.
The Italian boss of Marseilles, Roberto De Zerbi, recently said Inter had underestimated Ligue 1, accusing the Italian football establishment of snobbery when viewing the French League. That may be so, but I suspect Chivu, and Conte for that matter, will take nothing for granted over the next 12 months.
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