Escape from Naples: Fans Furious at Mrs. De Bruyne—What’s Going On?
A controversy has erupted in Naples over remarks made by Kevin De Bruyne’s wife, Michèle, who, in an interview with NINA magazine, expressed her hope for a quick departure from the Campania capital: “You can’t go out in Naples; we tell ourselves that the sooner we leave, the better.” These remarks were bound to provoke a reaction from Neapolitan fans, and the situation for the Belgian attacking midfielder—who already has a frosty relationship with coach Massimiliano Allegri and some teammates, such as Lorenzo Lucca—risks becoming even more complicated.
“He’s never enjoyed living and playing in Naples!” “He arrived already feeling uneasy… for someone with that kind of personality, life in Naples is the complete opposite of what they like,” “If you don’t want to stay in Naples, you can leave—no one’s forcing you,” “Go ahead, the door’s at the back on the right,” “He never settled in—that much was clear,” are just a few of the thousands of comments on social media.
The Belgian midfielder’s future appears increasingly uncertain, and a departure as early as January is a real possibility: PSV Eindhoven is closely monitoring the situation, and De Bruyne could leave the Azzurri six months before his contract expires on June 30, 2027. According to the Dutch press, the player’s entourage has been contacted by the Dutch club, which has sounded out the possibility of a January transfer. At the moment, these are reportedly preliminary discussions to establish the parameters of a potential deal, but an initial offer is said to be on the way.
In an interview with NINA, his wife Michèle Lacroix explained the difficulties the family has faced: “Kevin leads a very isolated life in Naples. It’s not pleasant for him. Plus, we can’t do anything together as a family in the city.” She added that they wish to return home: “We want to live here, in Belgian Limburg. The sooner we can do that, the better.” This aspiration could actually favor a move to PSV, given that Eindhoven is less than an hour away from Belgian Limburg. According to reports, Mrs. De Bruyne’s comments leave little room for the Saudi and Turkish clubs that had approached the entourage of the former Genk, Werder Bremen, Chelsea, Wolfsburg, and Manchester City player.
