Trending 
Serie A frontrunners Napoli may be without midfielder Kevin De Bruyne until early 2026, after the club announced that he has sustained a hamstring injury.
The former Manchester City player was injured while converting a penalty in his side’s 3-1 home win over Inter Milan on Saturday. After successfully taking his penalty, the 34-year-old Belgian suddenly halted, grasped his right thigh, and limped off the pitch with assistance from the club’s medical team.
It was De Bruyne’s fourth league goal in his debut season in Italy following his transfer from City during the summer.
“Kevin De Bruyne underwent tests which revealed that he has a large-scale lesion in the biceps femoris of his right thigh,” Napoli said in a statement.
“The player has already begun his rehabilitation,” the club added, without providing further details.
He had already netted twice from the penalty spot and once from a free kick.
Italian media reports say De Bruyne is not expected to return to action this year, posing a setback to Napoli’s ambitions to defend their Italian league title.
Napoli, who will take on Lecce on Tuesday, leads the table on goal difference but shares the same point total as second-placed AS Roma.
