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De Bruyne & Lukaku: Six Minutes of Napoli Pain, World Cup Hope
16 May
Summary
- De Bruyne and Lukaku shared just six minutes on the pitch for Napoli.
- Both players suffered injuries between August and October.
- This summer's World Cup may be their final chance together.
Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku have been selected for Belgium's World Cup squad, marking their fourth consecutive tournament appearance. Their reunion at Napoli, initially a source of excitement, resulted in a mere six minutes of shared playing time. This underwhelming club partnership, given the caliber of players involved, was largely due to injuries affecting both stars between August and October.
De Bruyne suffered a left biceps femoris injury, while Lukaku sustained a right quadriceps issue. Their sole appearance together for Napoli saw De Bruyne enter in the 79th minute and Lukaku follow in the 84th, totaling just six minutes of on-field collaboration. Lukaku has played only 64 minutes this season, compounded by personal difficulties. De Bruyne is returning after a second surgery on his muscle.
With both players in the later stages of their careers, the upcoming American summer World Cup is poised to be their final tournament together. It presents a potential last chance for the duo to achieve significant moments on the international stage, fulfilling the promise their Napoli partnership never could.
