Antwerp, Belgium — Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has undergone successful surgery on his injured hamstring in Belgium, the Serie A club announced on Wednesday.
In a statement, Napoli confirmed that the operation took place in Antwerp as planned after medical scans revealed a high-grade tear of the biceps femoris muscle in De Bruyne’s right thigh.
“The operation went well. De Bruyne, who was assisted during the operation by the head of Napoli’s medical staff, Dr. Raffaele Canonico, will now begin the first post-surgery phase of rehabilitation in Belgium,” the club said.
The 34-year-old Belgian sustained the injury last Saturday while scoring a penalty in Napoli’s 3-1 victory over title rivals Inter Milan, a crucial result that helped the reigning champions tighten their grip at the top of the Serie A standings.
Since joining Napoli from Manchester City in the summer transfer window, De Bruyne has made an instant impact, scoring four goals—three from the penalty spot and one from a free-kick—while also providing key assists in the club’s impressive early-season form.
Napoli’s sports coordinator Gabriele Oriali told reporters on Tuesday that the midfielder is expected to be sidelined for three to four months, meaning De Bruyne could miss a large part of the winter fixtures, including Napoli’s Champions League knockout stage matches.
Despite the setback, Napoli remain optimistic that De Bruyne’s professionalism and fitness discipline will aid a swift recovery.
De Bruyne’s absence will be a blow to coach Rudi Garcia, who has relied heavily on the veteran playmaker’s creativity and leadership in midfield. The club is now expected to turn to younger talents such as Piotr Zieliński and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to fill the gap as they look to maintain their domestic dominance and European ambitions.
