Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne suffered a serious thigh injury while scoring a penalty in Saturday's 3-1 win over Inter Milan, his club said on Monday, while Italian media reported the 34-year-old was not expected to play again before the new year.

Former Manchester City player De Bruyne clutched the back of his right thigh after scoring the opening goal of the Serie A match.

His teammates consoled him as he grimaced and left the pitch before returning to the substitutes' bench with crutches.

"Kevin De Bruyne underwent diagnostic tests... which revealed a high-grade lesion to the biceps femoris muscle in his right thigh," Napoli said in a statement, without providing a timescale for the player's return.

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