Kevin De Bruyne’s Return to Manchester City is Cut Short
The expected return of Kevin De Bruyne to Manchester City was interrupted this Thursday. The midfielder, now a Napoli player, was substituted at 26 minutes of the game. The situation arose after the expulsion of his teammate Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Di Lorenzo received a red card in the 21st minute, after a VAR review for a foul on Erling Haaland outside the area. Coach Antonio Conte was forced to reorganize the team, sacrificing De Bruyne.
De Bruyne, who had left City at the end of last season as a free agent, was received with a warm ovation from the fans. His departure from the field was also accompanied by applause.
Five minutes after the expulsion, De Bruyne’s number was raised to be replaced by Mathías Olivera.
During his time at City, De Bruyne won 16 major titles, including six Premier Leagues and the Champions League.
In May, the club announced the erection of a statue in his honor outside the stadium, in recognition of his legacy. In addition, a mosaic of De Bruyne was installed at the club’s academy and a street on its campus was named after him.
