Kevin De Bruyne’s journey back to the Etihad Stadium was filled with emotion as he returned after nearly a decade at Manchester City, where he contributed to 19 major trophies. However, his appearance was abruptly interrupted when he was substituted just 25 minutes into the match against Napoli after Giovanni Di Lorenzo received a red card. “It was a bittersweet return,” noted that whole stadium sang his name, highlighting the affection the fans have for him.

In a post-match comment, Guardiola reflected on De Bruyne’s impact, emphasizing the quick adaptation of elite players. Conte expressed regret over the situation, acknowledging that sometimes circumstances lead to an unfortunate twist of fate.

Earlier this year, Manchester City announced plans for a statue of De Bruyne to commemorate his contributions, further solidifying his legendary status among fans.