It was a poignant evening for Kevin De Bruyne as he made a fleeting return to the Etihad Stadium, where he previously played for nearly a decade, contributing to Manchester City’s success over more than 400 matches and helping them secure 19 major titles, including the 2023 UEFA Champions League.

Regrettably, De Bruyne’s comeback was cut short after just 25 minutes when Napoli’s captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo was shown a red card in the 20th minute of the first half. Manager Antonio Conte opted to substitute De Bruyne, bringing in Mathias Oliveira to strengthen the defense, as the crowd passionately chanted the name of their past hero.

Napoli eventually succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against the Premier League giants, with goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku in the second half.

“Of course, it’s nice for him to come back. I’m excited to see him after the match, and I’m not surprised by his impact at Napoli. He plays at that level, absolutely quick; such players don’t need to adapt. He’s unique,” stated Guardiola before the match.

“Sometimes the devil takes a turn for the worst, there’s a cruel twist of fate. Last year we didn’t have a single red card, but today we did. I feel sorry for the boy; we took away his chance to play most of the match in his old stadium,” said Conte.

Earlier this year, Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarack announced plans for a statue honoring De Bruyne, to be placed outside the Etihad Stadium, a fitting tribute to a player adored by the fans who welcomed him back with a banner and sung his name at kickoff.