MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -Manchester City welcome a familiar face back to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday as they kick off their Champions League campaign against Napoli and Kevin de Bruyne.
But while City boss Pep Guardiola shed tears when the Belgium midfielder made his final appearance for his team last season, the Spaniard said he will enjoy De Bruyne’s return on Thursday “after the game.”
De Bruyne, who won 19 trophies during his glittering 10-year spell at City and captained the side through some of its most dominant seasons, makes a swift return to Manchester following his summer move to Naples.
Though he now wears Napoli blue, “King Kev” remains a beloved figure at the Etihad.
Guardiola is not surprised how seamlessly De Bruyne has slotted into Antonio Conte’s Italian team,