Napoli have gained separation from the other teams interested in Kevin De Bruyne. They have been working on such a signing ever since he announced he would leave Manchester City about a month ago.

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna is remaining silent about a move to sign Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, 33, on a free transfer when he leaves Manchester City at the end of his contract this summer.

Giovanni Manna, Napoli’s sporting director, offered a diplomatic dodge when pressed by DAZN before Napoli’s clash with Genoa. “It’s normal that we are always focused on the market, we are attentive to every opportunity… But talking about it now is absurd, it belittles the work done by the lads and the coach… But talking about it doesn’t help us.”