Mansion Sports – Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has issued a stern warning to his star-studded squad, stating that no player is untouchable following a series of public statements directed at former coach Antonio Conte.

Creative midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku are now facing uncertainty over their futures after the Partenopei chief made it clear that he is prepared to approve player sales this summer.

De Laurentiis Responds to De Bruyne

Tensions at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona have reached a boiling point after De Bruyne publicly celebrated Conte's departure.

The Belgium international, who joined Italy on a free transfer from Manchester City last summer, endured a difficult debut season in Italy due to a serious hamstring injury and differences in tactical philosophy.

Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, De Laurentiis insisted that players who are unhappy with the club's direction are welcome to seek opportunities elsewhere.

When asked about comments considered disruptive from senior players De Bruyne and Lukaku, the film producer did not hold back.

"They have made statements that can be considered acceptable or unacceptable depending on your point of view," said De Laurentiis.

"We will see what happens when we all return to work. We will see what the new coach thinks about it. If someone has to leave, then they will leave. What is the problem? There are many football players in the world."

Belgian Star Admits Friction with Conte

De Bruyne's frustration stemmed from a tactical mismatch with Conte, despite the coach having guided Napoli to their fourth Scudetto only one year earlier.

The playmaker made only 18 Serie A appearances during the 2025-26 season and felt restricted by the rigid system implemented by the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager.

De Bruyne spoke candidly when asked whether he was pleased to see a coaching change.

"For me, yes. As far as I am concerned, he was not obliged to stay," said De Bruyne. "Promises were made last summer regarding how we would play, but in the end not much of that materialized."

"Clearly it was difficult for me because Conte has a very different football vision from mine. Honestly, I never had the opportunity to play in the position I prefer. In any case, I always tried to give my best for the team."

"We played very defensively. If you try to win every match by a one-goal margin using a 4-5-1 formation, then you are playing a certain type of football. At the beginning of the season, we played even more defensively."

Striker Difficulties Highlight Tactical Differences

De Bruyne criticized the club's defensive approach as well as the lack of attacking productivity, indirectly referring to the difficulties experienced by Lukaku.

This attacking crisis worsened after Lukaku violated club instructions during his injury rehabilitation process in Belgium, resulting in a €150,000 fine.

Although the striker has apologized, Napoli are reportedly prepared to sell him this summer for a reduced fee of €10 million amid interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

With Massimiliano Allegri widely expected to take over as head coach, the situation may not improve for those seeking more attacking football, as Allegri possesses a philosophy that is just as pragmatic as the coach he is expected to replace.

A New Era Begins Under Allegri

Although De Laurentiis cannot officially name Allegri as the new head coach for legal reasons, the president emphasized that the final decision regarding player sales will rest with the incoming coach.

The club hierarchy is reportedly unimpressed by the timing of the players' comments, particularly considering their important status within the dressing room and the significant investment the club has made in their salaries.