A Brazilian dream that never materialized

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli put together a concrete plan to sign Neymar when the Brazilian star became a free agent after terminating his contract with Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia at the end of January. Before sealing his return to Santos, his boyhood club, the Naples-based side tried to persuade him to join their project.

Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, sporting director Giovanni Manna, and head coach Antonio Conte were all aligned in the idea of bringing in a world-class name to strengthen the team midway through the Serie A season, during their push for another Scudetto.

Neymar, still carrying enormous global appeal and undeniable talent, represented the ideal chance to elevate the club’s international profile while adding proven experience in elite competitions. However, negotiations never came to fruition, and the forward chose to return home to Brazil.

De Bruyne, the unexpected alternative

As the Neymar pursuit faded, Napoli turned to an unexpected option: Kevin De Bruyne became available after ending his successful 10-year spell with Manchester City. The Belgian midfielder, regarded as one of the best of his generation, embraced the challenge of beginning a new chapter in Italy.

De Bruyne’s arrival was considered a true market coup. At 34, the former Chelsea and Wolfsburg star has had a strong start: he has featured in five of Napoli’s six Serie A matches, scoring three goals, and already registered two assists in the UEFA Champions League.

A decision that could define Napoli’s season

While signing Neymar would have been a groundbreaking move for Napoli, choosing De Bruyne looks to be the wiser sporting decision. The Belgian has injected leadership, creativity, and immediate impact into a squad seeking to remain among Europe’s elite.

The failed Neymar deal underscores the club’s growing ambitions to compete for global stars. Yet with De Bruyne now orchestrating their midfield, Napoli may have found the key figure to drive both their present success and their future ambitions.