Just after scoring, De Bruyne unexpectedly left the field in tears

Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne went through a haunting moment in Napoli's win against Inter Milan, as he sustained a severe injury right after converting a penalty.

The Belgian star stepped up to take the penalty in the 37th minute, accurately placing the ball into the left corner of the goal to give Napoli the lead. However, instead of celebrating, De Bruyne suddenly froze and clutched his thigh in pain. The image of him grimacing and trying to stay balanced by leaning on his teammates caused concern among the spectators.

His teammates quickly surrounded him, while De Bruyne signaled for a substitution. He was assisted off the pitch by the medical staff in tears, leaving a heartbreaking scene for the fans.

Despite losing their playmaker early, Napoli maintained their 1-0 advantage in the first half and eventually won 3-1, with Scott McTominay scoring the second goal. Yet the joy of victory was soon overshadowed by worries that De Bruyne might face a long-term absence, something coach Antonio Conte definitely does not want.

The 34-year-old player only joined Napoli this summer but has already scored 4 goals in 6 Serie A matches, including 3 penalties. He also provided an assist in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon. However, De Bruyne’s injury history makes this situation even more alarming.

The former Man City star underwent surgery on his right hamstring in August 2023, causing him to miss over four months. Prior to that, he had recurring issues in that area during the 2022/23 season. Then-coach Pep Guardiola admitted it was a “complex” injury that sidelined De Bruyne for 44 days, missing 12 matches.

In a 2024 interview, De Bruyne spoke about that surgery: “I started the season well, but after one movement, I heard a ‘pop’ sound. I thought it was nothing, but the next day I couldn’t walk. That’s when I realized it was a serious problem.”

He also revealed that the surgeon described his hamstring as “a wet tissue paper,” fragile and prone to tearing. De Bruyne shared: “I’ve played for 15 years, nearly 700 games, and that was when I had to have surgery to continue my career.”

Given his complicated injury history and current symptoms, Napoli and the fans are anxiously awaiting medical examination results. If De Bruyne faces a long-term break, it would be a huge blow to coach Conte’s ambitions for this Serie A season.