Kevin De Bruyne has suffered a high-grade hamstring tear and is likely to be out for the remainder of the year.
The Napoli midfielder underwent tests after picking up an injury against Inter Milan, when he appeared to pull a muscle in the process of converting a penalty in the first half and immediately grabbed his right thigh.
Medical staff had to help the visibly upset Belgian off the pitch and tests later revealed a serious hamstring tear. The club confirmed the news on Monday and announced he has already begun the rehabilitation process.
The club said: “Following the injury that occurred during the match against Inter, Kevin De Bruyne underwent instrumental tests at the Pineta Grande Hospital and that showed a high-grade lesion to the femoral bicep in his right thigh.”
“I live the game with my players, for better or for worse,” Napoli head coach Antonio Conte said after the game.
“We won despite the difficulties, we have important players absent and now De Bruyne has also been injured. Let’s say it’s not a very lucky year, maybe someone has cursed us.”
Napoli ultimately won the match 3-1, with De Bruyne’s penalty - his fourth goal of the season - opening the scoring before he was forced off after just 37 minutes.
The club have had a mixed start to the season, with this result a welcome one after losing last weekend to Torino and suffering a humiliating 6-2 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Conte’s side lead Serie A by a point over AC Milan, but De Bruyne’s absence - which is expected to be for between three to four months - is another blow to a club already suffering an injury crisis.
De Bruyne also has a history of hamstring issues, undergoing surgery on the same leg in August 2023 and missing four months of the season when at Manchester City.
