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‘I begged him’ – Noel Gallagher reveals text message to Manchester City icon Kevin De Bruyne

Noel Gallagher anticipated a ‘weird night’ as Kevin De Bruyne makes his return to Manchester City. The Belgian midfielder started for Napoli as the two sides met in their Champions League opener at the Etihad Stadium. Gallagher has sent the midfielder a message ahead of the clash with NapoliAFP It marked the first time De Bruyne had faced his former club following his departure in the summer. The 34-year-old spent a decade in Manchester and replaced Kyle Walker as club captain during the second half of last season. Following his exit at the end of the campaign, though, De Bruyne penned a two-year deal with Napoli. City fan Gallagher is desperate for the returning hero not to score on Thursday night. The Oasis star told talkSPORT Drive: “I’ve just texted him actually, I begged him not to score. “It’ll be a weird night… to see him in a different kit and to see him line up against us will be quite emotional, because he’s the king. “I expect him to have a great game and I expect him to make assists. Just as long as he doesn’t score.” Gallagher ultimately got his wish, albeit in the most brutal of circumstances for De Bruyne. Napoli were reduced to 10 men when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was sent off in the 21st minute for a foul on Erling Haaland. Unfortunately for De Bruyne, he was deemed the sacrificial lamb and was taken off by Napoli boss Antonio Conte in the 26th minute in place of Mathias Olivera, a defender. GettyDe Bruyne won 16 trophies and made 422 appearances during 10 years with City[/caption] De Bruyne made 422 appearances for City following his arrival from Wolfsburg in 2015. Across those matches, he scored 108 goals and provided 177 assists for his team-mates. His 16 trophies with the club included six Premier League titles and an historic treble in 2023. Gallagher was also intrigued to see whether De Bruyne would celebrate had he scored against City, though, having already opened his Napoli account. The Oasis rocker didn’t expect the Belgian maestro to do so, but felt players should always celebrate a goal against their former employers. He added: “I think they should [celebrate]. If it’s De Bruyne, who’s been there 10 years, that’s fair enough. The 34-year-old has already scored twice in three appearances for Napoli this seasonGetty “You see a lad who scored and played three games for the reserves, they hold their hands up to the crowd, you’re thinking, ‘Idiot’. “But people like Kev, who’s been there for the peak of his career, I suppose he’s not going to celebrate. But I think he should celebrate a goal, always.” De Bruyne has made three appearances for Antonio Conte’s side already this season. His trio of Serie A starts have produced two goals after he found the net against Sassuolo and Fiorentina. Those away victories came either side of a home win over Cagliari to help Napoli make a perfect start to their title defence. However, they have failed to win on their two previous trips to the Etihad Stadium. Their most recent trip ended in a 2-1 defeat during the Champions League group stage in 2017, with De Bruyne assisting Gabriel Jesus’ winning goal. Meanwhile, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the same stage of the competition six years earlier.

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‘I begged him’ – Noel Gallagher reveals text message to Manchester City icon Kevin De Bruyne

Noel Gallagher anticipated a ‘weird night’ as Kevin De Bruyne makes his return to Manchester City.

The Belgian midfielder started for Napoli as the two sides met in their Champions League opener at the Etihad Stadium.

Gallagher has sent the midfielder a message ahead of the clash with Napoli

It marked the first time De Bruyne had faced his former club following his departure in the summer.

The 34-year-old spent a decade in Manchester and replaced Kyle Walker as club captain during the second half of last season.

Following his exit at the end of the campaign, though, De Bruyne penned a two-year deal with Napoli.

City fan Gallagher is desperate for the returning hero not to score on Thursday night.

The Oasis star told talkSPORT Drive: “I’ve just texted him actually, I begged him not to score.

“It’ll be a weird night… to see him in a different kit and to see him line up against us will be quite emotional, because he’s the king.

“I expect him to have a great game and I expect him to make assists. Just as long as he doesn’t score.”

Gallagher ultimately got his wish, albeit in the most brutal of circumstances for De Bruyne.

Napoli were reduced to 10 men when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was sent off in the 21st minute for a foul on Erling Haaland.

Unfortunately for De Bruyne, he was deemed the sacrificial lamb and was taken off by Napoli boss Antonio Conte in the 26th minute in place of Mathias Olivera, a defender.

De Bruyne won 16 trophies and made 422 appearances during 10 years with City[/caption]

De Bruyne made 422 appearances for City following his arrival from Wolfsburg in 2015.

Across those matches, he scored 108 goals and provided 177 assists for his team-mates.

His 16 trophies with the club included six Premier League titles and an historic treble in 2023.

Gallagher was also intrigued to see whether De Bruyne would celebrate had he scored against City, though, having already opened his Napoli account.

The Oasis rocker didn’t expect the Belgian maestro to do so, but felt players should always celebrate a goal against their former employers.

He added: “I think they should [celebrate]. If it’s De Bruyne, who’s been there 10 years, that’s fair enough.

The 34-year-old has already scored twice in three appearances for Napoli this season

“You see a lad who scored and played three games for the reserves, they hold their hands up to the crowd, you’re thinking, ‘Idiot’.

“But people like Kev, who’s been there for the peak of his career, I suppose he’s not going to celebrate. But I think he should celebrate a goal, always.”

De Bruyne has made three appearances for Antonio Conte’s side already this season.

His trio of Serie A starts have produced two goals after he found the net against Sassuolo and Fiorentina.

Those away victories came either side of a home win over Cagliari to help Napoli make a perfect start to their title defence.

However, they have failed to win on their two previous trips to the Etihad Stadium.

Their most recent trip ended in a 2-1 defeat during the Champions League group stage in 2017, with De Bruyne assisting Gabriel Jesus’ winning goal.

Meanwhile, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the same stage of the competition six years earlier.