- Kevin De Bruyne was spotted wearing Napoli’s No. 10 training kit on the first day of pre-season
- The number has been retired since 2006 in honour of club legend Diego Maradona
- If officially given the shirt, De Bruyne would become the first Napoli player in the modern era to wear No. 10
Key Takeaways:
Kevin De Bruyne might become the first player in Napoli’s modern history to officially wear the iconic No. 10 shirt once belonging to Diego Maradona. The Belgian midfielder, who joined the Serie A champions as a free agent this summer, was seen wearing a training kit with the number on the opening day of pre-season. The sight quickly sparked reactions among fans on social media, as the shirt is deeply symbolic and tied to one of football’s greatest legends.
Kevin De Bruyne takes Napoli's legendary No. 10 shirt 🔟
He has never donned the number in his entire senior career 😮 pic.twitter.com/q1fYNEEIOZ
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 15, 2025
The No. 10 shirt at Napoli brings back memories of the 1980s and early 1990s, when Maradona led the club to its first two Serie A titles and a UEFA Cup. The Argentine was with Napoli from 1984 to 1991 and left an unmatched legacy that reshaped both the club and Italian football. At the time, shirt numbers were assigned based on positions, and the No. 10 was usually given to attacking midfielders.
From the 1990s onwards, Serie A allowed players to choose their numbers. It was then that Napoli officially retired the No. 10 shirt in honour of Maradona. After the club’s bankruptcy in 2004, a new Napoli was formed and began again from Serie C. During this period, positional numbers were reintroduced, and in April 2006, Argentine striker Roberto Carlos Sosa became the last player in club history to wear the No. 10 shirt. He scored a goal against Frosinone at the Stadio San Paolo — now renamed to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who took charge after the bankruptcy, has kept the number retired ever since.
If De Bruyne is officially given the No. 10, it would mark a historic and unprecedented move. The Belgian has never worn that number during his career, and no one has dared to wear or request the shirt in a city where Diego Maradona is more than a football legend.