De Bruyne suspended for final Nations League fixture as early Napoli return undecided
Quick summary
Kevin De Bruyne will miss Belgium's final Nations League group game due to suspension, with no decision yet on whether he returns to Napoli early or stays with the national team squad.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceKevin De Bruyne will not be able to feature in Belgium’s final Nations League fixture of the September-October international break through suspension, but it has not yet been confirmed whether he will be allowed to return to Napoli ahead of schedule.
De Bruyne suspended for final Belgium match of the international break De Bruyne scored a brace as Belgium claimed a 3-0 victory at home against Turkey in their third Nations League fixture of the 2026-27 campaign on Friday evening, but also picked up a booking which means that he is now suspended.
Read more: Questions asked of Allegri after De Bruyne’s standout performance in Italy 0-2 Belgium In the Nations League, players have to serve a one-match suspension after picking up an even-number of yellow cards i.e. after their second, fourth and sixth bookings. De Bruyne was carded in Belgium’s 1-0 defeat against France on Monday evening and again against Turkey on Friday.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Kevin De Bruuyne of Napoli looks on from the bench during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) This means that he will not be eligible to feature when Belgium take on France at the Stade de France on Monday evening (October 5).
Massimiliano Allegri might be hoping that this means De Bruyne is allowed to leave the Belgium camp ahead of schedule and return to Castel Volturno to resume training with Napoli ahead of their next Serie A match against the high-flying Frosinone on October 10.
However, the decision ultimately lies with Belgium head coach Mark van Bommel and the Belgian FA, who have not yet publicly confirmed whether or not De Bruyne will be allowed to leave the camp.
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What happened
Kevin De Bruyne has been suspended for Belgium's final Nations League match after accumulating yellow cards. The Napoli midfielder, who joined the club in the summer, is currently with the Belgian national team for the November international window. It remains undecided whether he will cut his international duty short and return to Naples ahead of the club's upcoming fixtures, or remain with Belgium in a non-playing capacity. Napoli will be monitoring the situation closely as they look to manage their marquee summer signing through a busy schedule.
Chance analysis
De Bruyne's suspension is a minor setback for Belgium but the real question for Napoli fans is workload management. After a landmark summer move from Manchester City, the 34-year-old has been a central figure in Napoli's campaign. Whether he links up early with the club or stays with Belgium through the window, the priority for Napoli will be ensuring their key playmaker is fresh for the resumption of domestic action.
No immediate change for Napoli; De Bruyne's availability for the next club fixture depends on whether he returns early from international duty.