Kevin De Bruyne names Arsenal star he wants at Napoli

Rather than selecting a player currently managed by Enzo Maresca, the Manchester City legend picked one of his former teammates.

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The Belgian appeared particularly interested in the possibility of being reunited with Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus, saying:

“Quality. Quality in attack—on the ball, in hold-up play, and in the build-up. He’s the kind of player we probably don’t have right now; he’s different from Rasmus or Lorenzo [Lucca].

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“If he were to join, he could help us. And he brings experience, too: he knows how to win. That’s important; we’ll see what happens. No, he hasn’t called me (about any contact).”

Given that De Bruyne and Jesus played alongside one another for several years at Manchester City, recording 29 combined goal contributions across 156 appearances, it is somewhat unexpected to hear the midfielder advocate for the Arsenal forward.

Jesus has endured a difficult period in recent seasons, with injuries playing a major role in his struggles for consistency. He managed only three Premier League goals last campaign and was not included in Arsenal’s squad for their 3-0 victory over Coventry in their opening fixture of the new season.

Nevertheless, the Brazilian produced an impressive display when Arsenal faced Inter Milan in the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League. While he scored only twice in six appearances during the competition, both goals came at San Siro as the Gunners secured a 3-1 victory over the Italian side.

Napoli have previously been associated with a move for Jesus, while Arsenal are reportedly prepared to negotiate only if an offer exceeding €20 million (£17m) is placed on the table.

With Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres seemingly ahead of him in the Arsenal hierarchy, however, Jesus could find his position increasingly difficult. His asking price could therefore become more negotiable as the transfer deadline approaches.

Napoli would also need to take his salary into account. The 29-year-old is reportedly earning £265,000 a week, putting him among Arsenal’s highest earners.

That figure is considerably above De Bruyne’s salary in Naples, meaning Jesus could potentially need to accept reduced wages to make a transfer happen.

Still, with only 12 months left on his current Arsenal contract, reports suggest the Brazilian is content to remain in north London for the final year of his deal. If that happens, he could then consider his next move next summer, when he would be available as a free agent.