### Kevin De Bruyne's Injury: A Major Setback for Napoli Kevin De Bruyne, the Napoli midfielder, has undergone successful surgery for a hamstring injury sustained while scoring a penalty during a match against Inter Milan. This injury has significant implications for both De Bruyne's career and Napoli's season, as he is expected to be sidelined for at least three months, potentially affecting the team's performance in Serie A and European competitions. The injury occurred during a crucial 3-1 victory, which kept Napoli at the top of the league table, but the cost of the win was high for the Belgian star [https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/De-Bruyne-undergoes-successful-surgery-after-thigh-injury-taking-penalty][https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2025/10/29/de-bruyne-sidelined-for-at-least-three-months-after-napoli-hamstring-injury/196391]. ### Breakdown of the Situation 1. **Injury Details**: - De Bruyne suffered a hamstring injury while taking a penalty during the match against Inter Milan. - The injury was serious enough to require surgical intervention [https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2025/10/29/de-bruyne-undergoes-successful-surgery-after-thigh-injury]. 2. **Recovery Timeline**: - Initial reports indicate that De Bruyne will be out for at least three months, with some sources suggesting he may not return until early 2026 [https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/de-bruyne-out-least-three-months-napoli-4021776][https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/kevin-de-bruyne-injury-napoli-36143358]. 3. **Impact on Napoli**: - De Bruyne's absence is a significant blow to Napoli, who are currently leading Serie A. His playmaking abilities and experience will be sorely missed during this critical period [https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/napolis-kevin-de-bruyne-unlikely-to-play-again-this-year-after-suffering-hamstring-injury-101761574534985.html]. ### Supporting Evidence - **Surgery Confirmation**: Napoli confirmed that De Bruyne underwent surgery in Belgium, which was deemed successful [https://www.flashscore.com/news/soccer-serie-a-de-bruyne-to-begin-recovery-in-belgium-after-undergoing-surgery-for-hamstring-injury/YZBOLavf]. - **Expected Recovery Duration**: Multiple sources report a recovery period of at least three months, with some suggesting a longer absence [https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kevin-de-bruyne-injury-napoli-32762188][https://uzalendonews.co.ke/kevin-de-bruyne-out-for-significant-time-after-hamstring-injury/?amp=1]. ### Conclusion In summary, **Kevin De Bruyne's injury is a significant setback for Napoli**, as he is expected to be sidelined for at least three months following successful surgery on his hamstring. This injury not only affects De Bruyne's career but also poses challenges for Napoli as they aim to maintain their position at the top of Serie A. The team will need to adapt quickly to compensate for the loss of one of their key players during this critical phase of the season. 1. De Bruyne suffered a hamstring injury during a penalty kick. 2. He underwent successful surgery and will be out for at least three months. 3. His absence is a major concern for Napoli's title aspirations [https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/Napolis-De-Bruyne-sidelined-with-thigh-injury][https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2025/10/29/napolis-de-bruyne-out-for-at-least-3-months].