Napoli's De Bruyne Faces Long-Term Absence After Serious Thigh Injury

Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli's key midfielder, suffered a severe right thigh injury during a match against Inter Milan, confirmed as a high-grade tear to the biceps femoris muscle. The injury occurred just after he scored a penalty, a moment after which he immediately felt pain and had to be helped off the field, leading to significant concern over his availability. Medical tests revealed a serious lesion, and while rehabilitation has begun, De Bruyne is expected to be sidelined until 2026, potentially missing several months of play. This injury is a major blow to Napoli and coach Antonio Conte, who is already facing a fitness crisis with other players like Romelu Lukaku also out. De Bruyne had been a crucial player for Napoli, contributing six goals and assists in eleven matches, and his absence could affect both Napoli's Serie A title defense and Belgium's upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Napoli will need to explore alternative options and possibly the transfer market to fill the void left by De Bruyne's long-term absence.