Fans vote De Bruyne Napoli's Player of the Month for September

Kevin De Bruyne is Napoli's Player of the Month for September. Supporters chose him in a vote on the club's official app, picking the best player of the month across Serie A and the Champions League.

His two penalties against Frosinone on 10 October suggested he had finally found his rhythm this season. Then came Villarreal and Venezia. At the Penzo, in the 68th minute, Stankovic saved his penalty when a goal would probably have brought Napoli level. Napoli lost 1-0 despite having 29 shots to Venezia's 9.

On Tuesday 20 October, against Bodø/Glimt, head coach Allegri left him on the bench at the start. Once he came on, he set up McTominay for the goal that made it 2-1 in the 41st minute.

A vote that says more than the award

This is where the award means more than a plaque. Napoli are ninth in Serie A with 10 points from seven games, and Allegri's job depends heavily on Saturday's match. In that situation, the fans have named De Bruyne as the player they still believe in. The vote shows faith in the most talented player in the squad. It is not a verdict on his current form.

That raises an awkward question. Can a player the fanbase has just honoured be left out of the starting XI on a Champions League night that was seen as close to decisive? If leaving him out was Allegri's decision, the coach has to justify it with results on the pitch, not in press conferences.

De Bruyne's contract runs until 30 June 2027, and the club has the option to extend it by a year. Months like this one will help decide his future.

Roma, third on 17 points, come to the Maradona on Saturday 24 October at 18:00 CET (17:00 UK, 12:00 ET). The club has said clearly that the game is the second test of Allegri. For De Bruyne, the September award counts for little. What counts is whether he starts on Saturday, and how he plays.