Napoli has confirmed their worst fears: Kevin De Bruyne has suffered a serious thigh muscle injury that will keep him out of action for several months.
De Bruyne instantly stopped play and grasped the back of his right thigh after scoring a penalty that contributed to Napoli’s 3-1 victory over Inter Milan on Saturday.
The former Manchester City star appeared distraught and had to be assisted off the pitch by two medical personnel. He was later spotted on the bench with his thigh heavily bandaged and crutches at his side.
In a statement on Monday, Napoli announced: “Following the injury sustained during the match against Inter, Kevin De Bruyne underwent diagnostic tests at Pineta Grande Hospital, which indicated a high-grade muscle injury in the femoral bicep of his right thigh.”
“The player has already begun his rehabilitation process.”
While Napoli did not specify a timeline for De Bruyne’s return, the injury is similar to one experienced by teammate Romelu Lukaku during a preseason friendly; Lukaku is expected to be back in January.
With his penalty, De Bruyne brought his season total to four goals in eight Serie A games, aiding Napoli in their joint top position in the league, but this setback could prove costly.
In addition to De Bruyne, fellow midfielder Stanislav Lobotka is also currently sidelined due to injury, while Frank Anguissa will be representing Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations this December and January.
This news is also a significant blow for Belgium as they prepare for key World Cup qualifiers next month. De Bruyne has scored six goals in his last five international matches.