De Bruyne on taking Maradona’s retired no.10 shirt at Napoli: ‘I’m my own player’ – Football Italia

Kevin De Bruyne has effectively confirmed that he will be wearing the no.10 jersey for Napoli after his summer move from Manchester City, suggesting that it is a major ‘honour’ to take the iconic shirt number previously retired in honour of the legendary Diego Maradona, but adding: ‘I’m my own player’. 

De Bruyne has been training with Napoli for the last week after sealing a move to the Stadio Maradona on a free transfer after a 10-year spell in the Premier League with Manchester City, during which time he won six league titles, two FA Cups, five league cups and the UEFA Champions League. 

The Belgian was officially unveiled in front of the press on Saturday, and sat down for his introductory press conference in the afternoon. 

De Bruyne on wearing Maradona’s no.10 shirt at Napoli

Reporters at De Bruyne’s first Napoli press conference asked about the photographs that circulated earlier in the week, showing the former City star wearing Maradona’s retired no.10 in training. 

In response, De Bruyne effectively confirmed that he will be wearing the no.10 shirt for the 2024-25 season. 

“I would say I was a bit surprised in the beginning, because I knew that the number was retired, but in another way it’s an honour. It’s an honour from the team and from the club to give me this responsibility,” De Bruyne said. 

He went on to explain that a shirt number does not add any more pressure for a player at his level, because ‘the pressure comes from itself if you play for a big team like Napoli’. 

“I don’t think it adds any more pressure,” De Bruyne added. “I think the pressure comes from itself. If you play for big teams like Napoli, the pressure will be there. There’s a team that wants to win, you know what you have to do as a player and a squad, but I don’t believe that a number or anything else will add to the pressure. 

“Maradona is Maradona, he’s one of the legends of the game and he’s synonymous with Napoli anyway. I’m grateful, I’m proud, but I’m my own player. I’m going to try and do the job the best I can do and hopefully I can bring pleasure to the team, to the city and to the fans and get some good performances in there.”