Champions League level signing + Golden Ball level strength, Napoli bows down to welcome new king Ding Ding

Sports Weekly All-Media Reporter Li Jingyi

Naples bowed and "King Kevin" arrived.

On Thursday, Naples issued an announcement announcing that it would sign a contract with 33-year-old Belgian offensive midfielder De Bruyne until the summer of 2027, with the contract being extended by one year. Even though De Laurentis offered a bloodletting fee of 10 million euros and a maximum salary of 5.5 million yuan, in the eyes of the world, a generation of midfield masters were also condescending. The new Serie A champion showed "self-knowledge" and respectfully called Ding "King Kevin".

De Bruyne worked hard for ten years to create the supreme beauty of the Blue Moon, but it was hard to withstand the ruthless years. Manchester City set about reconstruction, and Ding Ding was ruthlessly exiled by his mentor Guardiola. He was unwilling to question in extreme pain, and quickly sootheed the wrinkles in his heart. He believed that he still had the power to fight, so he refused the huge offer from Shazhi League and Meizhiquan, and was determined to stay in the continental region for self-certification. Through lobbying and recommendation from his compatriots Lukaku and Mertens, he finally decided to settle his next stop in the coastal resort in southern Italy and turned to the command of the single-line god Conte.

A good horse with a good saddle. Although Ding Ding enjoyed maximum salary in Naples, there was no change in the fact that he made great concessions. Compared with Blue Moon Time's extremely high annual salary of more than 20 million pounds, he made corresponding compromises to the new owner with limited financial resources. For Naples and even the entire Serie A, technical talent Ding Ding himself reduced his own value and invested, which can almost be called a dimensional reduction blow. The famous coach Capello made a high statement: "He is a signing contract at the Champions League level and has just used his strength to the Golden Ball. In Serie A, where the pace is slower, he will bring about qualitative changes and inject additional European experience."

After all, Ding Ding is just getting older, not really no longer useful, but it is just difficult to meet Guardiola's employment standards. After Naples sent off Kvaratskhelia in the winter window, he hit a wall when trying to introduce Garnacho and improved the team's creativity. This is naturally the number one goal in the summer window. The following season, Napoli no longer only focused on the first-tier team, but also had the upgraded schedule. This is a difficult challenge for Conte, who is not good at multi-tier teams. The famous Italian coach once had the intention to leave. After receiving the promise of signing a man from the Germans, he decided to take him for another year due to his concerns and hesitation. De Bruyne's arrival is not only a trustworthy move by the fickle chairman, but also proof of the team's pursuit of further breakthroughs.

Whether Naples can show ambitions that conform to De Bruyne's strength, or whether the latter can reshape the former glory in this sunny city, still needs to be watched and seen. Ding Ding's ambition is not over yet, but his injuries are caused by illness. In the late 2022-23 season, he ran for two months with his hamstring on the verge of breaking his hamstring, scooping up the magazine for Manchester City until the Champions League final. The fragile hamstring was like a string stretched to the limit, and breaking was their ultimate fate. Blue Moon was crowned three crowns historically, but the best Ding Ding is gone.

A few months later, the hamstring problem attacked again. He is still hardworking and diligent, but his strength is difficult to return to the past. The blue moon fell sharply this season, and Ding Ding faintly faded out of the starting lineup, but no one questioned Guardiola's choice. It was not what everyone expected to part ways, but it was just right. As for those lows and setbacks, they will not be included in the Belgian midfielder's Blue Moon heritage book. People will only remember his sharp and ecstasy pass as the Lancet, the precise arc that can be called a stroke of magic, and the unsolvable moments that tear the opponent's defense. And the starting point of all this, in September 2017, he broke through the door of defending champion Chelsea with his left foot, thus opening an era called Gua's Blue Moon.

When he left, consensus and controversy flew together: De Bruyne is the best player in the Premier League, which is a common argument; whether he is the best in the history of the "World No. 1 League" depends on his opinion. The questions of history will eventually be answered by history. What the people want is the highest patina for a player. Manchester City fans have called for a statue to be erected for him, allowing him to join Aguero, David Silva and Kompani to continue to protect Etihad in a non-body form. Naples fans were eagerly awaiting his arrival, and a few steps to reach the headquarters of Naples, De Bruyne was unable to move forward, and was almost squeezed to breathe in a canned sardine-like sardine-like place, physically.

This is the great power of a superstar, and its deepest roots exist among the people.