Good News for Belgium and Napoli: Kevin De Bruyne Closing to Return From Injury

Napoli are preparing to welcome back a familiar face to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. After a grueling period on the sidelines, Kevin De Bruyne is finally closing in on his return to Italy. The Belgian playmaker is expected to arrive in Naples on Sunday, coinciding with his teammates' trip to Bergamo to face Atalanta. From Monday, the veteran midfielder is slated to report to the Castel Volturno training centre, marking the beginning of the crucial reintegration phase under the watchful eye of Antonio Conte.

The journey back has been far from simple for the former Manchester City man. It has been 116 days since De Bruyne’s season hit a devastating roadblock on October 25. During a high-stakes clash against Inter, the midfielder suffered a serious injury to the biceps femoris in his right thigh while converting a first-minute penalty. The sight of the Belgian in tears was a bitter blow for the Partenopei. Following the advice of specialists, he underwent surgery in Antwerp on October 29 and has spent the last few months at a specialised clinic in Belgium.

With a return to Italy penned in for this weekend, according to Corriere dello Sport, he will get to see his team-mates as they return for training on Monday. However, it is still unclear when he will be able to participate with the rest of the group, let alone make his return to the matchday squad.

In a twist of fate, De Bruyne’s rehabilitation coincided with that of his international team-mate Romelu Lukaku. While Lukaku has already successfully navigated his way back into Conte’s matchday squads, De Bruyne’s path required surgical intervention. Despite the different approaches to their recoveries, both players share a singular focus: regaining peak fitness to