De Bruyne adapts to roaming role at Napoli, fewer assists

Kevin De Bruyne adjusted to a different tactical role at Napoli after his transfer from Manchester City. The Belgian midfielder operates as a roaming playmaker rather than a traditional chance creator, and Football Italia examined his statistics through nine matches before the Champions League fixture against PSV Eindhoven.

De Bruyne netted three goals from set pieces in seven Serie A contests without recording assists, but he contributed two assists in two European matches. Former Italian defender Beppe Bergomi said positional constraints and teammate placement limit his assist opportunities compared with Manchester City’s system.

The midfielder moved toward central and left wing positions, where Scott McTominay also operates, because Matteo Politano and Frank Anguissa occupy right-sided areas. His new responsibilities emphasize attack construction and shooting frequency rather than final ball delivery.

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