Manchester City fans were left holding their breath as midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne was forced off with an injury during Friday's pre-season friendly against Napoli.
The Belgian international, who only returned to training last week following his summer break, appeared to be struggling with a muscular problem before being substituted in the 38th minute of the match in Greece.
Early Exit Raises Concerns
De Bruyne's premature departure came as an unwelcome surprise to the travelling City supporters who had been eager to see their star playmaker back in action. The 32-year-old had shown flashes of his trademark brilliance in the opening exchanges before signalling to the bench that he needed to come off.
Pep Guardiola and his medical team will now conduct immediate assessments to determine the severity of the issue, with the Community Shield clash against Arsenal looming just two weeks away.
Timing Couldn't Be Worse
This injury scare comes at a particularly delicate moment for both player and club. De Bruyne was enjoying his first proper pre-season after missing much of last summer's preparations, and his fitness is considered crucial to City's hopes of securing an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title.
The Belgian playmaker has battled various fitness issues over the past year, making this latest setback particularly concerning for Guardiola's side as they prepare to defend their treble.
What This Means for City's Season Start
With crucial early-season fixtures approaching, including the Community Shield at Wembley and the Premier League opener against Burnley, City will be desperately hoping this proves to be nothing more than a precautionary measure.
The potential absence of De Bruyne would represent a significant blow to City's creative capabilities, placing additional pressure on summer signing Mateo Kovačić and the returning Phil Foden to fill the considerable void.
All eyes will now be on the Etihad treatment room as City fans await updates on their midfield magician's condition.
