Kevin De Bruyne's emotional Man City statement explains Napoli transfer decision

Manchester City decided against offering Kevin De Bruyne a new contract and after considering staying in the Premier League he eventually signed for Napoli.

Kevin De Bruyne speaks to the media on Saturday as he's unveiled as a Napoli player

Kevin De Bruyne was unveiled as a Napoli player on Saturday and revealed he didn't sign for another Premier League club because he felt he was tied to Manchester City "for life".

The Belgian's emotional Etihad exit at the end of last season came amid frustrations that he hadn't been offered a new contract when he felt he still had more to give for Pep Guardiola's side.

As De Bruyne digested that decision, he considered staying in the Premier League, as he wanted to keep playing at the highest possible level. Moves to the MLS or the Saudi Pro League were ruled out.

In the end, De Bruyne opted for Napoli, signing for the Italian champions as a free agent, enticed by the possibility of working with Antonio Conte and linking up with international teammate Romelu Lukaku.

Speaking about that move as he addressed reporters in Naples, De Bruyne made clear his affection for City remained as strong as ever despite voicing his disappointment at the ruthless way he was told his time at the club was up.

"I have been in the Premier League for so long and in the end I made the decision to go out of England," he said.

"I have done what I have done and in the end I am a Man City player for life. It was also with the way that it ended for me, I thought, it is time to find a new challenge.

"When I had the whole project in front of me and then the fact that I could play in Italy and still play at a high level was exciting for me."

De Bruyne could come up against his former club in the Champions League as Napoli look to impress in Europe as well as launching a defence of their title, and the 34-year-old can't wait to get going.

"Napoli already are champions but they are still improving their squad... I am hoping that I can help the team grow and I will also learn from them, a new way of playing, a new competition," De Bruyne said.

"Romelu was happy [about the move], I spoke with him in the national team [camp], he wanted me to join. I know Romelu since we were 13-years-old, so we are really tight together. When we played in Chelsea we lived together for two or three months.

"It makes it a little bit easier that I know him because he is somebody who can translate for me and it helps because he knows the coach, he knows the team."

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