Kevin De Bruyne has spoken in regards to the variations in fashion of soccer in Italy in comparison with the Premier League and says that he’s excited to be taking over when face on the 2026 World Cup on Monday night: ‘Like outdated occasions’.
De Bruyne on taking part in in Italy, studying tips on how to play in a low block and dealing with Salah once more
De Bruyne following a 10-year stint within the Premier League with , throughout which era he received the league title six occasions and claimed the 2022-23 Champions League.
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The skilled Belgian hit the bottom working after transferring to Serie A over the summer season, offering 4 targets from his first eight league appearances earlier than struggling a hamstring harm in opposition to in the direction of the tip of October.
That may trigger him to overlook over 4 months of motion and restrict him to simply 18 league appearances throughout his first season in Italy.
“It’s tough to say, clearly I’ve been out for 4 or 5 months,” De Bruyne stated throughout his pre-match with Belgium when discussing his personal situation heading into the World Cup.
NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli, as an alternative of celebrating the aim, stops everybody attributable to an harm throughout the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Internazionale at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 25, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photograph by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photos)
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De Bruyne additionally went on to debate the variations he encountered taking part in in Italy in comparison with the Premier League.
“I actually felt like originally of the season and even once I got here again I used to be fairly good contemplating every little thing that occurred.
“I feel I confronted a really totally different fashion of taking part in in Italy than I used to be in all probability used to in England. In a method there are some issues you possibly can take about studying tips on how to defend deep and all that type of stuff. Certain, you are taking some issues.”
Belgium’s upcoming match in opposition to Egypt will carry a battle of two modern-day Premier League greats in De Bruyne and Salah.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JUNE 06: Mohamed Salah of Egypt controls the ball throughout the worldwide pleasant match between and Egypt at Huntington Financial institution Discipline on June 06, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photograph by Kirk Irwin/Getty Photos)
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“You recognize, it’s going to be good to see Mo (Salah) once more,” stated De Bruyne. “Omar () I do know additionally. I performed in opposition to Mo for 10 years. Our children additionally went to the identical college so I noticed him on occasion and he’s a very nice man, so it is going to be good to see him, good to compete once more like outdated occasions.”