Allegri hails 'play everywhere' De Bruyne as Badiashile's Napoli switch hangs in the balance

Massimiliano Allegri has delivered a glowing endorsement of Kevin De Bruyne, declaring that the Belgian maestro has the quality to 'play everywhere' in his Napoli system — a verdict that will not have gone unnoticed in Belgium ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. As reported by Football Italia, the Napoli coach was full of admiration for the former Manchester City captain's football intelligence, insisting his tactical flexibility means he cannot be pinned down to a single role. De Bruyne's vision, timing and passing range make him the ultimate manager's dream — capable of dictating play as a classic No.10, dropping deeper to orchestrate proceedings, or drifting wide to create overloads for teammates. For the 34-year-old, the endorsement arrives at a career-defining moment. With the World Cup 2026 looming across the United States, Mexico and Canada, Belgium's veteran leader knows that peak club form in Serie A is his ticket to spearheading the Red Devils on what could be his final bow on football's grandest stage. The adaptability Allegri describes is precisely what Belgium will need in a tournament where tactical flexibility so often decides tight knockout ties. Napoli's staff have reportedly been delighted with how quickly the playmaker has embraced the demands of Italian football, where defensive structure and tactical discipline traditionally test even the greatest creative talents. That Allegri is willing to trust him in multiple roles suggests De Bruyne will be central to the Partenopei's ambitions this season. Badiashile deal still in the balance While De Bruyne's place in the project appears rock solid, the same cannot yet be said of defender Benoît Badiashile. Allegri confirmed that the Frenchman's move to Napoli is still not confirmed, with the club yet to finalise an agreement. The centre-back has been strongly linked with a switch to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but Allegri refused to be drawn on timelines, insisting any transfer announcement would only come once the deal was done. For Badiashile — a defender with international pedigree eyeing a place in France's plans for 2026 — regular football in Naples could prove persuasive, but for now his future remains unresolved. With the World Cup countdown well underway, every club-level decision now carries international consequence. Napoli supporters will hope both storylines end in silverware — and that De Bruyne and Badiashile arrive at next summer's tournament in peak condition.