De Bruyne and Lucca clash as Napoli’s Champions League campaign suffers Porto setback

Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli team-mate Lorenzo Lucca exchanged angry words during the Italian side’s 4-1 defeat by Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday, with the striker reportedly telling the Belgian midfielder to “get out of my face”.

De Bruyne, who spent a decade regarded as one of Manchester City’s leading players, has endured an inconsistent spell since joining Napoli in 2025. The 35-year-old started again in the fourth round of the Champions League, but made little impact as his side struggled in Portugal.

Tensions boiled over late in the match after the attacking midfielder missed an opportunity and reacted angrily. He directed what were described as hurtful comments towards Lucca, who had only entered the game as a substitute a few minutes earlier.

According to several Italian media outlets, including La Gazzetta dello Sport, Lucca responded: “Why are you talking?” The Italian forward then repeatedly shouted: “Get out of my face.”

The exchange came after Porto had scored their second goal through Francesco Farioli. Video of the confrontation circulated on social media, while La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that other Napoli players intervened to separate the pair and calm the situation.

The defeat leaves Napoli’s European campaign in a difficult position. Their opening victory over Bodø/Glimt, a 4-3 success, initially appeared to provide a promising start to their Champions League run.

However, the heavy loss in Porto represents a significant setback for Massimiliano Allegri’s team. After four rounds, Napoli sit 27th in the standings with three points, having recorded one win and three defeats.

The result also added to a night of frustration for De Bruyne, who was unable to influence the contest before becoming involved in the late argument with Lucca. Napoli now face the challenge of recovering from their poor European start with only one victory from their opening four matches.