Why Did Kevin De Bruyne Choose Romelu Lukaku's Jersey No. 11 Over Diego Maradona's Iconic No. 10 at Napoli?

When Kevin De Bruyne showed up in a Napoli kit sporting the legendary Diego Maradona's iconic retired No. 10, the Belgian wizard's first training session in Naples sent shockwaves throughout the football landscape. The Serie A champions, however, clarified within 48 hours that De Bruyne would don the Jersey No. 11, abandoned by fellow countryman Romelu Lukaku and that the No. 10 would still be on hold.

From Training-Session Tease to Lukaku’s No.11

The viral image of Kevin De Bruyne in a No.10 training top quickly reignited debate over whether Napoli should ever unretire Maradona’s jersey. Club staff clarified that pre-season training kits are numbered 1-30 for logistical ease and do not reflect match-day allocations; De Bruyne himself laughed off the idea, repeatedly shaking his head and saying, “No, no, no… it’s just training” when told the story would explode on social media.

Napoli’s board had no appetite to break a promise made in the year 2000, when the No. 10 shirt was formally withdrawn as a homage to Maradona’s transformative seven-year spell in Naples. Instead, they offered De Bruyne the No.11 shirt, freshly available after Lukaku accepted the iconic No.9 jersey once Victor Osimhen was removed from the squad earlier in the summer transfer window.

The striker had worn 11 during Napoli’s 2024-25 title win but agreed to inherit No. 9—a number he has cherished at Everton, Manchester United and Belgium—out of respect for Osimhen’s legacy and to free the No. 11 for his long-time international team-mate. De Bruyne gladly accepted, noting that he wore Jersey No. 11 at Genk in his breakout year and sees “no need to rewrite club history for me”.

Symbolically, the choice underlines two layers of respect: first, toward Maradona’s everlasting bond with Naples, and second, toward Romelu Lukaku’s seniority inside a Belgian-flavoured dressing room that also features Cyril Ngonge. It also sidesteps potential Serie A bureaucracy: retired numbers can only be reactivated with league approval, which Napoli never sought.

When Will Kevin De Bruyne Make his Debut for Napoli?

Antonio Conte intends to unleash his new playmaker, Kevin De Bruyne, in the first pre-season friendly against Serie C side Arezzo at the Stadio Comunale on 22 July 2025. Barring any late fitness setbacks, De Bruyne will share midfield duties with Stanislav Lobotka and Billy Gilmour for a planned 45-minute cameo designed to build match rhythm after medical tests at Castel Volturno.

Napoli then face Catanzaro, Brest, Girona and Olympiacos before opening their Scudetto defence at home to newly promoted Sassuolo on 23 August, a fixture marked by club officials as De Bruyne’s competitive Serie A bow. Conte’s staff believe a staggered pre-season will allow the 34-year-old—who signed a two-year deal worth €6 million net—to hit peak sharpness by mid-September, when Champions League group play begins.

In short, the No.10 saga was a photo-op, not a power play. By opting for Lukaku’s 11, Kevin De Bruyne showed deference to Maradona’s myth and reinforced Belgian camaraderie, all while ensuring he can begin writing a fresh Neapolitan chapter without altering a sacred page of club history.