### Kevin De Bruyne's Injury: A Major Setback for Napoli Kevin De Bruyne, the Napoli midfielder, has suffered a significant hamstring injury during a crucial match against Inter Milan, where he scored a penalty to help secure a 3-1 victory. Following the injury, De Bruyne underwent successful surgery, but he is expected to be sidelined for at least three months, raising concerns for both his club and national team commitments. This injury marks a critical moment in the Serie A season, as Napoli aims to maintain their position at the top of the league table. ### Breakdown of the Situation 1. **Injury Details**: - De Bruyne sustained a hamstring injury while scoring a penalty during the match against Inter Milan on October 28, 2025 [https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/Napolis-De-Bruyne-sidelined-with-thigh-injury]. - The injury was severe enough to require surgery, which was confirmed as successful by Napoli [https://www.flashscore.com/news/soccer-serie-a-de-bruyne-to-begin-recovery-in-belgium-after-undergoing-surgery-for-hamstring-injury/YZBOLavf]. 2. **Recovery Timeline**: - Initial reports indicated that De Bruyne would be out for at least three months, with some sources suggesting he might not return until early 2026 [https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2025/10/29/de-bruyne-sidelined-for-at-least-three-months-after-napoli-hamstring-injury/196391]. - The club's team manager, Gabriele Oriali, confirmed the expected duration of absence [https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/de-bruyne-out-least-three-months-napoli-4021776]. 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 are crucial for the team's success [https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/kevin-de-bruyne-injury-napoli-36143358]. - The team will need to adjust their strategy and lineup to cope with his loss during this critical phase of the season [https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kevin-de-bruyne-injury-napoli-32762188]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Surgery Confirmation**: De Bruyne underwent successful surgery on October 29, 2025, as reported by multiple sources [https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/De-Bruyne-undergoes-successful-surgery-after-thigh-injury-taking-penalty, https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2025/10/29/de-bruyne-undergoes-successful-surgery-after-thigh-injury]. - **Expected Recovery**: The consensus among sports analysts and club officials is that De Bruyne will be sidelined for a minimum of three months, with some reports indicating a potential absence of up to five months [https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/kevin-de-bruyne-injury-napoli-36143358, https://www.wtop.com/sports/2025/10/kevin-de-bruyne-likely-out-until-2026-with-severe-thigh-injury-a-blow-for-napoli-and-belgium]. - **Team Performance**: Napoli's current standing in Serie A and their reliance on De Bruyne's skills highlight the impact of his injury on the team's performance [https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/napolis-kevin-de-bruyne-unlikely-to-play-again-this-year-after-suffering-hamstring-injury-101761574534985.html]. ### Conclusion: A Challenging Road Ahead for Napoli In summary, **Kevin De Bruyne's injury is a significant setback for Napoli**, as he is expected to be out for at least three months following successful surgery on his hamstring. This injury not only affects his club's immediate performance in Serie A but also raises concerns for his participation in future international fixtures. 1. **Injury Occurrence**: De Bruyne injured himself while scoring a penalty against Inter Milan. 2. **Surgery and Recovery**: He underwent successful surgery and is expected to be sidelined for three to five months. 3. **Impact on Team**: Napoli must adapt to his absence as they strive to maintain their top position in the league. The situation remains fluid, and fans will be closely monitoring updates on De Bruyne's recovery and Napoli's performance in the coming months.