Romelu Lukaku has issued a friendly warning to his Belgian teammate Kevin De Bruyne about the challenges he’ll face in his new adventure with Napoli. While excited about De Bruyne’s arrival, the striker didn’t hesitate to point out the pressure that comes with playing for one of Italy’s most passionate clubs.

De Bruyne Begins a New Chapter in His Career

After a highly successful decade at Manchester City, where he lifted numerous trophies, Kevin De Bruyne has decided to close his Premier League chapter at the age of 33. His absence from the Club World Cup with City signaled that his time at the Etihad had truly come to an end.

Now, the Belgian midfielder begins a new journey with Napoli, reigning Serie A champions, aiming to remain among football’s elite and reignite his ambitions in the UEFA Champions League.

Lukaku Played a Key Role in His Decision

In an interview with Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, Lukaku revealed that he played a significant role in influencing De Bruyne decision to sign for the Napoli side. The two had several conversations some during national team duty and others more personal.

“I’m happy he’s joining us. He’s exactly what Napoli needs to take the next step,” Lukaku said.

“We just won the title, and we don’t just want to defend it we want to improve. I spoke to him a couple of times while on national duty, and he also called me once. I explained how things work here, told him where to look for a place to live, and so on. Dries [Mertens] and I did everything we could to convince him, and Kevin made the right decision.”

A Word of Caution About Life in Napoles

While Lukaku praised the passionate culture of Napoli fans and the affection they show their players, he also issued a fair warning about the pressure that comes with it.

“A Napoli player receives a lot of love. I’m glad Kevin will get to experience that,” he added.

“Playing football in Italy is unmatched there’s a type of passion you won’t see anywhere else. But there’s also a downside… I’ve played at clubs where fans showed up at training when things weren’t going well. It’s not pleasant, but it makes you realize you have to give your all every single day.”

Napoli Aims Higher with Conte and De Bruyne

With Kevin De Bruyne arrival and Antonio Conte now at the helm, Napoli is aiming not just to defend their domestic title, but to make a bigger impact on the European stage. All eyes will be on how the Belgian maestro adapts to the fiery intensity of Italian football in the coming season.