Journalist labels Kevin de Bruyne a “spoiled brat” after midfielder’s sensational EURO2024 exit rant

Kevin de Bruyne’s mixed zone appearance was riddled with controversy, following Belgium’s elimination from EURO2024 at the hands of France on Monday in Düsseldorf.

Jan Vertonghen’s late own goal was enough for les Bleus to progress to the quarterfinals of the tournament, with Didier Deschamps’ men set to face Portugal on Friday in a repeat of the EURO2016 final.

A slender defeat against the World Cup finalists is perhaps one of the more dignified ways to bow out of a major tournament, though some fear that this was the last chance for a talented crop of Belgian players to establish themselves as serious title contenders.

Their third-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup was sandwiched by quarterfinal exits at both EURO2016 and EURO2020, and an underwhelming group stage elimination in Qatar meant that this summer’s tournament truly felt like one last shot at redemption.

But instead, they’re heading home, having recorded their worst European Championships finish since they returned to the continental scene at EURO2016 for the first time this century.

Kevin de Bruyne was quizzed by an Italian journalist in the mixed zone, with the Manchester City midfielder asked if it “hurt that a golden generation didn’t achieve a final once again.”

Seemingly bemused by the journalist’s question, the 33-year-old questioned: “You say that France, England, Spain and Germany have no golden generation?”

All looked to be wrapped up there, but videos published on social media purport to show De Bruyne muttering “f***ing stupid” under his breath as he walked away from the interview podium – and the journalist, now known to be Tancredi Palmeri, responded with a remarkable rant via his X account.

“Ahah, De Bruyne just called me stupid. Hey Kevin, little memo for you,” he wrote, adding that “the golden generation you mentioned of France, England, Germany and Spain? They ALL REACHED A FINAL!”

Palmeri slammed the Belgian international as a “usual footballer that wants only question telling him how good they are… spoiled brat!”

Having eliminated Belgium, France will now turn their attention to their meeting with Portugal at 20:00 BST [21:00 CEST] on Friday, with that clash taking place at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg.

You can follow detailed coverage of EURO2024 right here on FromTheSpot throughout the tournament.