Lukaku Encourages De Bruyne To Assume Protagonist Role At Napoli Following Transfer

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Romelu Lukaku has encouraged Kevin De Bruyne to take a leading role at Napoli following his move to the Serie A champions. De Bruyne joined Napoli on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City, ending a decade-long career at the Etihad. During his time there, he won 16 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

De Bruyne made 422 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 108 goals and providing 170 assists. He ranks second in Premier League history for assists with 118 and was the fastest to reach 100 assists in just 237 games. Lukaku, who has played alongside De Bruyne for Belgium 79 times, believes his presence will help Napoli compete for the Scudetto in the 2025-26 season.

Lukaku shared that convincing De Bruyne to join Napoli required little effort. "I didn't have to give him any advice or convince him of anything," Lukaku told Sky Sport Italia. "De Bruyne is a very down-to-earth guy, he's all about family." He added that he asked De Bruyne to be as influential at Napoli as he was at Manchester City and for Belgium.

Lukaku played a crucial role in Napoli's title win last year, being the only Serie A player with double figures in both goals (14) and assists (10). His performance was his best since scoring 24 goals with Inter in the 2020-21 season under Antonio Conte. The chance to work with Conte again influenced De Bruyne's decision to join Napoli over offers from MLS and Saudi Pro League.

Conte's coaching style is known for its intensity. Lukaku joked about this, saying: "Conte is tougher than ever. That's natural. He is a coach who always tries to improve himself and his players." This mindset aligns with their mantra: "Always give your best every single day."

Napoli's New Signings

Napoli has strengthened its squad with seven new players, including Sam Beukema from Bologna. Lorenzo Lucca also joined from Udinese on loan with an obligation to buy for €26 million. Lucca scored 12 goals last season, becoming the first Italian since Kevin Lasagna in 2017-18 to achieve this feat for Udinese.

Lukaku sees potential in Lucca as more than just an understudy. "I am trying to help him out with tactical movements," Lukaku said. He praised Lucca's ability to attack the penalty area effectively, adding that they could complement each other well if they play together.

The decision on whether they play together ultimately rests with the coach. However, Lukaku believes having Lucca adds another dimension to their attack as they aim to defend their title.