Kevin de Bruyne will join up with Belgium’s Euro 2020 squad on Monday after surgery on eye socket

Kevin de Bruyne will join up with Belgium’s Euro 2020 squad on Monday after undergoing surgery on fractured eye socket he suffered in Manchester City’s Champions League final defeat


Kevin de Bruyne will link up with the Belgium squad on Monday after undergoing minor surgery having fractured his eye socket while playing for Manchester City in the Champions League final.

The Manchester City midfielder suffered the injury last weekend following a clash of heads with Chelsea‘s Antonio Rudiger, which led to concerns regarding de Bruyne’s involvement for Belgium at Euro 2020.

However, while de Bruyne is set to be absent for Belgium’s opener against Russia on June 12, he should be able to play a full part in the remainder of the tournament. 

Kevin de Bruyne will link up with Belgium’s squad on Monday after undergoing surgery on a fractured eye socket

Speaking about de Bruyne’s operation, Belgium manager Roberto Martinez said: ‘It went very well, very positively. We are looking forward to Monday when he will join our squad

‘That small intervention was necessary with a view to the long term. He will not need a long recovery.

‘The operation only took 20 minutes. The medical staff is satisfied with the result. De Bruyne is now doing well, that’s all.’

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez says de Bruyne won't need a long recovery following the injury

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez says de Bruyne won’t need a long recovery following the injury

de Bruyne will have wear a mask similar to the one Jan Vertonghen sported two years ago

de Bruyne will have wear a mask similar to the one Jan Vertonghen sported two years ago

Earlier this week Martinez revealed that de Bruyne will have to wear a mask similar to the one that his Belgium team-mate Jan Vertonghen sported while playing for Tottenham two years ago. 

‘De Bruyne is unlikely to be fit for that first match so whoever replaces him will have to show he’s ready,’ Martinez said on Wednesday.

‘We made a decision about his mask. It will be one of the producers who made Jan Vertonghen’s mask. We were very satisfied with that.’

Following the clash against Russia, Belgium will then face Denmark on June 17 before finishing the group stages with a clash against Finland on June 21. 

De Bruyne has made 80 appearances for Belgium since making his debut in 2010 and has scored 25 times. 

Having drawn 1-1 against Greece in their first warm-up match, Belgium will continue their preparations for the tournament on Sunday when they face Croatia.