De Bruyne: "Conte? I'm happy he's leaving Napoli..."

[Ish]

https://sport.sky.it/calciomercato/2026/05/30/de-bruyne-conte-napoli-intervista

De Bruyne spoke about his relationship with Conte to the Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad: "I'm happy that Conte is leaving Napoli, it wasn't necessary for him to stay. We play very defensively. If you score only one goal per game with a 5-4-1... It's not great. He has a very different vision of football from mine, we don't have to beat around the bush. I have never been able to play in my usual position"

Seems to be reported on Sky sports Italy. Apparently, he was not happy with Conte's defensive set up and not playing in his best position (assuming this is where McT plays?).

Why go there in the first place then? I think we're all pretty aware that Conte's preferred set up is a bit defensive?

What do you make of this?

 

[Robbie Boy]

He would hate Arteta so.

 

[Drainy]

At least he's not pretending

 

[Lay]

https://sport.sky.it/calciomercato/2026/05/30/de-bruyne-conte-napoli-intervista

De Bruyne spoke about his relationship with Conte to the Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad: "I'm happy that Conte is leaving Napoli, it wasn't necessary for him to stay. We play very defensively. If you score only one goal per game with a 5-4-1... It's not great. He has a very different vision of football from mine, we don't have to beat around the bush. I have never been able to play in my usual position"

Seems to be reported on Sky sports Italy. Apparently, he was not happy with Conte's defensive set up and not playing in his best position (assuming this is where McT plays?).

Why go there in the first place then? I think we're all pretty aware that Conte's preferred set up is a bit defensive?

What do you make of this?

His wife pushed to live there from what I read.

He's right in a lot of ways too. Napoli were turgid to watch last season, the amount of injuries in the squad was unfathomable. From reports, it claims Napoli players asked Conte to tone down the training because the players were just breaking down.

Though if Allegri is the new coach, I'm not sure how anything changes on the pitch.

 

[Ish]

His wife pushed to live there from what I read.

He's right in a lot of ways too. Napoli were turgid to watch last season, the amount of injuries in the squad was unfathomable. From reports, it claims Napoli players asked Conte to tone down the training because the players were just breaking down.

Though if Allegri is the new coach, I'm not sure how anything changes on the pitch.

Thanks for the bolded bit. Makes sense. I'm not going to pretend that i've watched them but seemed an odd transfer seen as how well McT was doing - and wasn't he mostly playing in the '10' - fairly advanced role you would have assumed KdB would want to occupy?

But yeah, seemed they dropped a level last year but fortunately for us made the UCL spots so they have to sign Hojlund (which they said they were going to sign anyway, but you never know).

At least Conte got another league title I guess. He should just go back to the Italian NT.

 

[Bastian]

Thanks for the bolded bit. Makes sense. I'm not going to pretend that i've watched them but seemed an odd transfer seen as how well McT was doing - and wasn't he mostly playing in the '10' - fairly advanced role you would have assumed KdB would want to occupy?

But yeah, seemed they dropped a level last year but fortunately for us made the UCL spots so they have to sign Hojlund (which they said they were going to sign anyway, but you never know).

At least Conte got another league title I guess. He should just go back to the Italian NT.

The money has been paid from what I gather.

 

[Adisa]

Though if Allegri is the new coach

Why are Italian teams like this ffs?

 

[Ish]

The money has been paid from what I gather.

Oh great. I guess it became mandatory once they secured their CL qualification.

 

[Oranges038]

Can see why he'd be pissed. If he's going to spent his latter years winding down somewhere nice, he may as well enjoy it.

 

[Lay]

Why are Italian teams like this ffs?

Honestly it's so bizarre. When Napoli were linked with Italiano and it was close, I thought finally, some proactive decisions. But no, they've just reverted to the tried and tested (and out of touch) method.

 

[adexkola]

Why are Italian teams like this ffs?

Incestuous?

 

[Scandi Red]

Incestuous?

Mamma Mia!

 

[padr81]

https://sport.sky.it/calciomercato/2026/05/30/de-bruyne-conte-napoli-intervista

De Bruyne spoke about his relationship with Conte to the Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad: "I'm happy that Conte is leaving Napoli, it wasn't necessary for him to stay. We play very defensively. If you score only one goal per game with a 5-4-1... It's not great. He has a very different vision of football from mine, we don't have to beat around the bush. I have never been able to play in my usual position"

Seems to be reported on Sky sports Italy. Apparently, he was not happy with Conte's defensive set up and not playing in his best position (assuming this is where McT plays?).

Why go there in the first place then? I think we're all pretty aware that Conte's preferred set up is a bit defensive?

What do you make of this?

He was told there'd be a change of playstyle by Napoli to get him tó go there

 

[Ish]

He was told there'd be a change of playstyle by Napoli to get him tó go there

Yeah seems like he says conte somewhat never kept his promises etc which I assume has to do with playing him in his favored position and also playing more attacking football.

 

[padr81]

Yeah seems like he says conte somewhat never kept his promises etc which I assume has to do with playing him in his favored position and also playing more attacking football.

Still its Conte he should have known better.

 

[Rolaholic]

He's going to absolutely hit it off with Allegri then

 

[Blood Mage]

Everywhere Conte goes he falls out with players. I'm glad we never brought him to United, although he couldn't have been as disastrous as Amorim.

 

[Ish]

Still its Conte he should have known better.

Yeah, true. And I was wondering why conte left. Probably a few reasons with this being one of them

 

[Skills]

Yeah, true. And I was wondering why conte left. Probably a few reasons with this being one of them

Even in the very best of situations Conte, has at most a 2 year shelf life (the 3 at Juve being the exception). He's too corrosive.

 

[Ish]

Even in the very best of situations Conte, has at most a 2 year shelf life (the 3 at Juve being the exception). He's too corrosive.

No arguments there. He does tend to win a title though

*not at Spurs

 

[PepG]

He would love the life with Allegri then Conte is a defensive coach, yes but with very clear identity and idea how his team should play. Allegri is just defensive...

 

[Bosnian_fan]

He would love the life with Allegri then Conte is a defensive coach, yes but with very clear identity and idea how his team should play. Allegri is just defensive...

Yeah, Allegri is way worse. Conte at least wants that 1:0, Allegri is gunning for 0:0, goal will eventually come.

 

[tenpoless]

Bruno took his record and he's grumpy

 

[Ole'sattheWheel]

His wife pushed to live there from what I read.

He's right in a lot of ways too. Napoli were turgid to watch last season, the amount of injuries in the squad was unfathomable. From reports, it claims Napoli players asked Conte to tone down the training because the players were just breaking down.

Though if Allegri is the new coach, I'm not sure how anything changes on the pitch.

Really sorry to nitpick on your broader point but why do people often misuse the word “turgid” nowadays in this way in football terms? I always thought it meant pretentious or wanky. Are people perhaps confusing it with turbid? Turbid means something that is muddled or has no direction.

 

[Rolaholic]

He would love the life with Allegri then Conte is a defensive coach, yes but with very clear identity and idea how his team should play. Allegri is just defensive...

Yea I'll be shocked if he's still there by the end of the window

One of the other Italian clubs in the CL should snap him up

 

[noelyman]

Really sorry to nitpick on your broader point but why do people often misuse the word “turgid” nowadays in this way in football terms? I always thought it meant pretentious or wanky. Are people perhaps confusing it with turbid? Turbid means something that is muddled or has no direction.

Yeah it typically means overblown and therefore pompous. And while this makes sense in terms of a piece of writing or a lecture it makes less sense in terms of football. I guess the overblown and pompous is easily confused as boring and therefore the false connection is made.

PS I've just read this explanation back and it sounds a bit turgid

 

[Aboutreika18]

Bruno took his record and he's grumpy

I can't think of any opposition players who appreciate Bruno as much as De Bruyne. He's always bigging him up in interviews.

 

[Gandalf]

Interesting that Conte referenced incidents with players during the season as being part of his reason for wanting to leave. KDB almost confirming with this that he is part of whatever situation developed that soured Conte on staying.

 

[Gazza]

Really sorry to nitpick on your broader point but why do people often misuse the word “turgid” nowadays in this way in football terms? I always thought it meant pretentious or wanky. Are people perhaps confusing it with turbid? Turbid means something that is muddled or has no direction.

Yeah it typically means overblown and therefore pompous. And while this makes sense in terms of a piece of writing or a lecture it makes less sense in terms of football. I guess the overblown and pompous is easily confused as boring and therefore the false connection is made.

PS I've just read this explanation back and it sounds a bit turgid

Interesting sidebar. "Turgid" is a word that gets wildly misused by football commentators all the time; it tends to be used as a synonym for "dour" or "boring". Some examples

 

[Withnail]

Really sorry to nitpick on your broader point but why do people often misuse the word “turgid” nowadays in this way in football terms? I always thought it meant pretentious or wanky. Are people perhaps confusing it with turbid? Turbid means something that is muddled or has no direction.

Yeah it typically means overblown and therefore pompous. And while this makes sense in terms of a piece of writing or a lecture it makes less sense in terms of football. I guess the overblown and pompous is easily confused as boring and therefore the false connection is made.

PS I've just read this explanation back and it sounds a bit turgid

Interesting sidebar. "Turgid" is a word that gets wildly misused by football commentators all the time; it tends to be used as a synonym for "dour" or "boring". Some examples

Torpid is what they mean: sluggish, lacking in energy

 

[FearAontaithe]

de Bruyne isn't playing for Cheating 115 FC and behaves in an entitled, spoilt manner.

Napoli should get rid.

 

[Ole'sattheWheel]

Torpid is what they mean: sluggish, lacking in energy

I guess its an example of semantic drift like “literally”. Where if enough people use a word incorrectly then it ends up taking on the new meaning. Language is a fascinating thing

 

[Apokalips]

Everywhere Conte goes he falls out with players. I'm glad we never brought him to United, although he couldn't have been as disastrous as Amorim.

Great at winning short term but his attitude is all over the place, I would hate my coach to carry on.

Jose and Tuchel riled him up by barely doing anything and watching our coach crash out like that would be horrible. He runs his players into the ground and falls out with everyone.

Our fans would back him in all these fights and the place would be mega toxic, while we probably lose some good players and watch trash football.

 

[Grande]

I can't think of any opposition players who appreciate Bruno as much as De Bruyne. He's always bigging him up in interviews.

‘Kevin de Bruyne’ in vlaams means ‘The handsome and beloved son of Bruno’

 

[Withnail]

I guess its an example of semantic drift like “literally”. Where if enough people use a word incorrectly then it ends up taking on the new meaning. Language is a fascinating thing

Absolutely. The new usage is connected to dictionary definition in that turgid prose means that something can be tedious or boring to read, just as apathetic or sluggish performances are tedious for the viewer. Irregardless, I expect the new meaning will make it into the dictionary eventually.

 

[gromit]

‘Kevin de Bruyne’ in vlaams means ‘The handsome and beloved son of Bruno’

Surely you mean ‘The son of handsome and beloved Bruno’

 

[Scarecrow]

Why are Italian teams like this ffs?

 

[Rolaholic]

Proper musical chairs in that incestuous league

 

[FootyGirl88]

Is just me or is he always complaining

 

[Scarecrow]

Proper musical chairs in that incestuous league

To be fair, it's been like this over there since I can remember. Capello, Lippi, Ranieri, Ancelotti, Trapattoni etc. all managed half of Serie A, as well.