Major Manchester City Rival Engages in Transfer Talks with Kevin De Bruyne

During his childhood in Belgium, Kevin De Bruyne famously declared to a local TV journalist that Liverpool was his beloved team, with Michael Owen being his hero on the pitch.

This sentiment was echoed again in 2019 during a conversation with Match of the Day magazine. His family connections in England were Liverpool supporters, making it an obvious allegiance. Owen's Ballon d'Or triumph in 2001 left a lasting impression on the then 10-year-old De Bruyne.

Moving to 2025, the Belgian maestro might have had the chance to fulfill his childhood dream by joining his boyhood favorites, which would have created one of the transfer window's most captivating stories following his departure from Manchester City as an undisputed icon.

However, this fairy tale reunion never materialized. De Bruyne chose to join Serie A titleholders Napoli this month, moving his family to Italy's stunning Amalfi Coast and penning a two-year deal through 2027.

Multiple pathways were available for his consideration. Reports from The Athletic suggest De Bruyne would have "entertained" the possibility of joining another English top-flight team. He seemed hesitant about departing City initially, with his exit being more about not receiving a contract extension rather than his own desire to leave, and reportedly preferred remaining in northwest England, the region he's called home since 2015 and where his three children were born.

Consequently, there were brief discussions between De Bruyne's representatives and Liverpool. Nevertheless, with the reigning Premier League champions pursuing Florian Wirtz, De Bruyne's prospects of securing consistent first-team football remained questionable—and accepting a substitute role held no attraction.

Given that this realistic opportunity collapsed in its preliminary phases, he was never forced to decide whether to join the club that has been City's primary rival for nearly ten years.

De Bruyne preferred to remain in European football, dismissing opportunities in Major League Soccer or Saudi Arabia's top division, with The Athletic noting that teams like Juventus and Galatasaray never submitted formal offers despite expressing early interest.

However, Napoli met all his requirements, with particular attraction stemming from the opportunity to work under Antonio Conte, plus the prospect of Champions League participation.