Kevin de Bruyne takes another Man Utd star to Napoli - Fabrizio Romano

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 29 Oct 2025 10:23 GMT
4 min read

Kevin De Bruyne, Man City, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

The serious injury sustained by Kevin de Bruyne means Kobbie Mainoo is likelier to join Napoli during the January transfer window.

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De Bruyne will be out for three to four months after tearing his thigh muscle scoring a penalty in Napoli's 3-1 win over Inter Milan on Saturday.

Current ETV

Kobbie Mainoo

DM, M (C)

Man Utd

Kobbie Mainoo

DM, M (C)

Man Utd

ETV Range

€55M - €67.2M

De Bruyne is unlikely to return to the field until February or March at the earliest.

Napoli were already planning to sign a central midfielder in January, with Mainoo their top target, but Fabrizio Romano says that the injury to De Bruyne means they will now intensify this pursuit.

Mainoo to Napoli

Romano says that Mainoo is not the only midfielder on their January shortlist but is recognised as their top target.

The Italian journalist says that Mainoo would accept a January loan move to Serie A as he pushes to leave Man Utd.

Mainoo is unhappy about the lack of playing time he is getting under Ruben Amorim and has made it clear to United chiefs he wants a dry loan until the end of the season.

Man Utd are still refusing to letting him go but Mainoo is pushing hard to convince them.

Napoli were keen on signing him in the last days of the summer window, only to be told by Man Utd he was not available.

Mainoo was desperate to depart Old Trafford this summer on a temporary loan for the 2025-26 season.

The midfielder is frustrated that he has only started 12 of Ruben Amorim's 36 Premier League games in charge at United.

And he will push for a loan move for the second half of the season in order to aid his development and to try and get back into the England squad for the World Cup.

Mainoo was not part of Thomas Tuchel's latest squad due to a lack of minutes at United.

The chances of Mainoo's situation improving seem slim as manager Ruben Amorim views the youngster as an alternative to Bruno Fernandes, who is unlikely to ever be dropped.

Speaking after Man Utd’s 1-1 draw versus Fulham, Amorim admitted: “He’s (Mainoo) fighting for the position now with Bruno, and I changed two midfielders.

“I let Mason Mount [play] there because we want to score a goal and when I changed I felt the team needed to return to one holding midfielder near Bruno.

“So he just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as [it] should be at Manchester United. [Sometimes] he’s going to play with Bruno, but at the moment he’s fighting in training with Bruno for the position.”

The England midfielder has been a substitute in every single Premier League game this season. He only started the EFL Cup defeat to Grimsby.

Mainoo has made 80 appearances for Man Utd since his senior debut in 2022-23 and has also been capped 10 times by England, playing at Euro 2024.

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