{"id":146224,"date":"2025-09-18T22:43:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T22:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/146224\/"},"modified":"2025-09-18T22:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T22:43:09","slug":"man-city-supporters-fume-at-brutal-kevin-de-bruyne-decision-that-sparks-man-utd-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/146224\/","title":{"rendered":"Man City supporters fume at brutal Kevin De Bruyne decision that sparks Man Utd point"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Kevin De Bruyne returned to Manchester City as a Napoli player in the Champions League on Thursday night, but the iconic midfielder&#8217;s return to the Etihad Stadium was short-lived.<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_GettyImages-2236149705.jpg\" alt=\"Kevin De Bruyne's return to Man City only lasted 27 minutes.\" loading=\"eager\" \/>Kevin De Bruyne&#8217;s return to Man City only lasted 27 minutes.(Image: 2025 James Gill &#8211; Danehouse)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Manchester City fans were left devastated after <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/kevin-de-bruyne\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Kevin De Bruyne&#8217;s<\/a> return to the club ended after only 27 minutes. The Belgian returned to the Etihad Stadium as a <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/napoli\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Napoli<\/a> midfielder in the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/champions-league\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Champions League<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Much was said about the Belgian magician coming back to the club where he won six <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/premier-league\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Premier League<\/a> titles, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/man-city-kevin-de-bruyne-35260796\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the Champions League, two FA Cups and five League Cups<\/a>. Unfortunately for the ex-<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/chelsea-fc\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Chelsea<\/a> midfielder, his return to the club did not even pass the half hour mark.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/antonio-conte\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Antonio Conte<\/a> was forced to haul De Bruyne off when Giovanni Di Lorenzo brought down <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/erling-braut-haaland\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Erling Haaland<\/a> and was sent-off for preventing a goal-scoring opportunity. After being reduced to three defenders, Conte was then forced into taking off De Bruyne and bringing on Mathias Olivera.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/breaking-man-city-napoli-var-35927945\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"35927945\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kevin de Bruyne hauled OFF as VAR intervenes in incident that left Erling Haaland fuming<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/breaking-mancity-napoli-champions-league-35927792\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"35927792\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">TNT Sports forced to issue apology as Man City vs Napoli hit by technical difficulties<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">He looked devastated as he trudged off the field. Disappointed City supporters serenaded him off by singing his song; &#8216;Oh Kevin De Bruyne&#8217; to the tune of Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes. As he took his seat on Napoli&#8217;s bench, football fans in their numbers came out to offer their thoughts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">One City fan said: &#8220;When I think about it, taking De Bruyne off in the 27th minute. That&#8217;s absolutely ridiculous, you&#8217;ve got to be kidding me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Another added: &#8220;How can you take him off? Homecoming no more,&#8221; before one particularly disappointed supporter said: &#8220;This was really sad.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">However, some United fans chose to partake in a spot of Schadenfreude after De Bruyne left the field. Referencing former United players turned Napoli stars, Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund, one fan tweeted: &#8220;Got sacrificed ahead of McTominay and Hojlund. This De Bruyne fall needs to be studied.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_GettyImages-2235577767.jpg\" alt=\"De Bruyne did not hide his disappointment.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>De Bruyne did not hide his disappointment.(Image: 2025 Simon Stacpoole\/Offside)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">Another United fan wrote: &#8220;As Napoli manager, why would you sub Kevin De Bruyne, especially when Hojlund was an option?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">A second added: &#8220;The disrespect in taking De Bruyne off after a red card when you&#8217;ve still got Hojlund on the pitch.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">De Bruyne moved to Naples this summer when he was a free agent. The Belgian previously admitted he wanted to remain at City, but Guardiola&#8217;s side did not offer him a new contract.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_GettyImages-2235574870.jpg\" alt=\"United fans could not believe Conte chose to substitute De Bruyne and not Hojlund.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>United fans could not believe Conte chose to substitute De Bruyne and not Hojlund.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">He is enjoying a strong start to life under Conte. He has already contributed two goals in his first three Serie A matches and would have had an eye on finding the net against his former team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">However, he will have to wait for his next Champions League outing, which will be against Sporting Lisbon on October 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/KLOUWbmSQd86jj7ZbbVOHa\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Join our new WhatsApp community <\/a>and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. 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