De Bruyne and Lucca clash on pitch after Naples' heavy defeat to Porto

Kevin De Bruyne and Lorenzo Lucca nearly came to blows on the pitch at FC Porto on Tuesday evening during the fourth matchday of the Champions League league phase. The scene, which occurred in the final minutes of a 4-1 defeat that leaves Naples in 27th place in the European standings, was captured live by cameras.

The altercation began after a failed attacking move. Frustrated by his team’s collective performance, the 35-year-old Belgian midfielder criticized a tactical choice by his teammate. Lucca, who came on in the 81st minute when the match was already decided, responded sharply: “Why are you speaking?”, before directing several “Fuck off” remarks at De Bruyne. Teammates quickly intervened to separate the two men and prevent the scene from escalating further.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, this public clash is not an isolated incident: tensions between the two players are said to have already occurred away from the media spotlight. Napoli’s management is reportedly aware of the problem and is considering cleaning house during the January winter transfer window, not ruling out placing certain players on the transfer list.

The sporting context aggravates the situation. Under the management of Massimiliano Allegri, Naples must continue in Serie A with home matches against Lazio and Torino before facing Manchester City in the Champions League. The Partenopei club is approaching these fixtures in a climate of internal tension rarely so visible.