‘King Kev’ wants his former Man City teammate to join him in Naples as £100m flop faces Etihad exit
Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly urging Napoli boss Antonio Conte to pull off a sensational swoop for his former Manchester City teammate Jack Grealish – with the Belgian maestro singing the England star’s praises to his new Italian employers.
The 33-year-old De Bruyne, who completed his free transfer to the Serie A champions earlier this month, has been providing glowing references about the 29-year-old playmaker as Grealish’s Manchester City career appears to be reaching a bitter end.
According to sources, Conte has been actively seeking De Bruyne’s opinion on Grealish, whose future at the Etihad looks increasingly bleak after being brutally axed from Pep Guardiola’s Club World Cup squad.
‘King Kev’ Wants His Mate
De Bruyne – who was unveiled by Napoli with a throne and crown in a spectacular presentation befitting his ‘King Kev’ nickname – is understood to be keen for a reunion in Naples and “hopes his glowing reference will see Conte also try to land” the out-of-favour England international.
The Belgian’s advocacy comes at a crucial time for Grealish, who has endured a nightmare season at City, starting just seven Premier League games and watching from the bench as his team lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace.
In a touching farewell message before leaving City, Grealish had told De Bruyne: “You were a big reason why I wanted to join this club in the first place; to play with you. It’s been a pleasure. The best player I’ve ever played with, for sure.”
Now De Bruyne appears keen to return the favour by helping orchestrate a move that could resurrect his friend’s stalling career.
Conte’s Interest Confirmed
Multiple sources have confirmed that Conte “rates” Grealish and has been considering a move for the £100 million man since January. The Italian tactician, who has already transformed former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay’s career at Napoli, sees potential in reviving another Premier League outcast.
Napoli view Grealish as a like-for-like replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was sold to Paris Saint-Germain in the winter transfer window. The Serie A champions are desperate for a creative left-winger to bolster their title defence.
The Telegraph reports that while Conte is an admirer, Napoli’s interest dates back several months, with the club weighing up whether to make a formal approach for the England international.
Wage Demands Could Scupper Deal
The biggest stumbling block to any potential deal is Grealish’s eye-watering £300,000-per-week wages – a figure that would shatter Napoli’s wage structure.
Sources suggest Manchester City would need to subsidise as much as 50% of Grealish’s salary to make any loan deal viable, though the Premier League champions would prefer an outright sale.
With Grealish earning around £18 million per year, Napoli simply cannot match his current terms without significant financial assistance from City or a dramatic wage reduction from the player himself.
City Ready to Cut Their Losses
Guardiola’s decision to leave Grealish out of the Club World Cup squad was seen as the final nail in the coffin for the former Aston Villa captain’s City career. The Spanish manager recently suggested Grealish may need to leave to find regular first-team football.
“It’s not personal,” Guardiola said after dropping Grealish from City’s final game of the season. “I’m the person who fought for Jack to come here, and the person who fought for him to stay here this season and the next season.”
But actions speak louder than words, and City officials are now “optimistic” they will receive offers for their record signing, though a loan move appears more likely than a permanent transfer.
Competition for Signature
While De Bruyne pushes for the Napoli move, Grealish isn’t short of suitors. Premier League clubs including Everton, Newcastle United, and even former club Aston Villa have been linked with the 29-year-old.
However, Tottenham Hotspur – who had been mentioned as potential suitors – are not expected to enter the race, according to reports.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also poured cold water on suggestions Napoli are actively bidding, stating there’s “nothing serious as Napoli are focused on different targets” – though this could change if De Bruyne’s influence proves persuasive.
Make or Break Summer
For Grealish, this summer represents a career crossroads. Once British football’s most expensive player, his £100 million move from Aston Villa in 2021 has failed to live up to expectations, with just 17 goals in 157 appearances.
A reunion with De Bruyne in Naples could offer the fresh start he desperately needs – and with his former teammate in Conte’s ear, the Italian champions might just take a gamble on reviving another Premier League career.
As one source close to the situation put it: “Jack needs to be playing regularly, and if that means leaving City, so be it. Having Kevin pushing for him at Napoli could be exactly what he needs.”
The coming weeks will reveal whether De Bruyne’s lobbying efforts pay off – and whether Grealish can finally escape his Manchester City nightmare for a new adventure in Serie A.
Title: 2021‑12‑07 Fußball, Männer, UEFA Champions League, RB Leipzig – Manchester City FC
Author: Steffen Prößdorf (aka Stepro)
Date & Location: 7 December 2021, Red Bull Arena, Leipzig (approx. 51°20′46″ N, 12°20′53″ E) commons.wikimedia.org
License: Creative Commons Attribution‑ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY‑SA 4.0) – free reuse with attribution and share-alike
Original Commons page: File:2021‑12‑07 Fußball, Männer, UEFA Champions League, RB Leipzig – Manchester City FC 1DX 2782 by Stepro (cropped).jpg
