For the first time since 2007, Club Brugge has four Red Devils. Simon Mignolet, Brandon Mechele and Hans Vanaken are now trusted names in Roberto Martinez’s selection, but Charles De Ketelaere is now making his first appearance there. An honor that causes mixed feelings for his coach Philippe Clement, although it may not be any harm to the national champion in the long run. Moreover, the national coach may have had another pleasant surprise in store for Blauw-Zwart.
Martinez is working on rejuvenation, that much is now clear. In the previous exhibition match against Ivory Coast, the Spaniard showed up no fewer than five debutants with Zinho Vanheusden, Alexis Saelemaekers, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Joris Kayembe and Hendrik Van Crombrugge. A month later, it is the turn of Dodi Lukebakio, Hannes Delcroix and thus De Ketelaere against Switzerland without any accidents. Eight new faces, including four products from Neerpede and the current goalkeeper from Anderlecht. With the teenagers Jérémy Doku and Yari Verschaeren, especially in the attacking compartment, the follow-up is therefore mainly towards the Lotto Park. However, De Ketelaere is now the odd man out in the midst of all that Purple & White company.
EXAMPLE OF VERSCHAEREN
The 19-year-old purebred of Club Brugge, where top talents from their own youth academy are a lot scarcer, follows in Verschaeren’s footsteps. Just like his peer more than a year ago, he makes his appearance with the big boys barely two months after his debut at the U21 – where Jacky Mathijssen can count on him again after the duel against Switzerland. In his three appearances for the Jonge Duivels, De Ketelaere already became acquainted with the 3-4-3 system, in which he also drew his string as a pocket attacker. With its versatility, the left leg, also an asset in the offensive ranks of the Belgians, has everything it takes to become a fixed value in the broad core of the national team in the long term. Who knows, he may be able to enforce that status even now.
After all, things also went quickly for Doku and Verschaeren, to never disappear from view afterwards. The first will probably even kick off for the fourth time and will increase his number of caps to six, only two less than Hans Vanaken. In the meantime, the winger no longer plays for Anderlecht, because a month after his international debut, Stade Rennes had no less than 26 million left for him. Doku narrowly knocked Youri Tielemans off the throne as the most expensive departure ever among the Brussels residents, who also received at least ten million for Romelu Lukaku, Leander Dendoncker and in a more distant past even Vincent Kompany. A stark contrast to Club Brugge, where the most lucrative fellow countryman to date still remains Obbi Oulare (over eight million).
BRUGES BELGIANS VS NEERPEDE
Who knows what the bumpy striker, then only 19 years old, would have achieved if he had been pinned on the quality label of the Red Devils – which was of course the case for each of the aforementioned Purple & White toppers. In Jan Breydel, in the footsteps of Oulare, Anthony Limbombe, Maxime Lestienne and Björn Engels follow as Belgians who brought in the most money. They were all allowed to ever join the Red Devils, although only Limbombe actually has minutes on the counter. One half in a friendly against Saudi Arabia that is. By the way, the winger was already 24 years old, just like Thomas Meunier when he went to PSG with nine international matches to his name. The transfer for a paltry six million was completed during the European Championship 2016, where the right back was holder.
An amount that was previously established by means of a clause, and therefore did not represent its true value. Yet it is striking that Blauw-Zwart does not count any Belgian among its five top sales, where in Anderlecht only Aleksandar Mitrovic interrupts the list of own talent. This is indicative of the difference in success between both programs. Where the current generation in Lotto Park is mainly mirrored by Kompany, Tielemans, Lukaku or Dennis Praet, for a predecessor of De Ketelaere we have to go back to Marc Degryse in the 1980s. Engels and Brandon Mechele are of course also children of the house, but as defenders are more difficult to compare. In terms of intrinsic class, they are also in a slightly lower category than what is already expected from De Ketelaere.
INTERNATIONAL VIEW
After his winning goal in the Champions League against Saint Petersburg, that hope got another big boost. Still, Bart Verhaeghe was there when the chickens to say that the gold nugget even with a monster offer of 25 million – a sneer to Anderlecht and the sale of Doku? – is not allowed to leave soon. Nevertheless, the chairman is rubbing hands with De Ketelaere’s new status as a Red Devil, despite the mixed feelings of his coach – whose joy and pride for the little one contrasts with his concerns about the inherent corona risks. Although it is not the intention to quickly cash in on the hero of Zenit, who can of course also learn a lot from the national team in terms of sports, his international reputation is thus further upgraded.
Insofar as this is still necessary after his excellent performance on the champion ball, although a place at number one in the FIFA ranking remains the cherry on the card. Just like the compliments that Jan Vertonghen already gave him. When sooner or later they sit around the table with interested clubs in Jan Breydel, it is undoubtedly an argument to get the most out of it. Especially if De Ketelaere has a few caps to his credit by then. Although he is still regularly on the couch at Club, the teenager has to tolerate only Krépin Diatta, Emmanuel Dennis and Vanaken in terms of estimated market value. It is doubtful whether he, like the latter, will settle for a career in Bruges. Making optimal use of the first top talent from home-grown in years is the message.
OPENING FOR ORIGI
Preferably, that moment is postponed for as long as possible, because a sale is nowhere near an issue. Once that day arrives, Martinez’s choice for the youth can finally also yield the national champion something. CDK will probably get even closer to the club record of 25 million, in the name of Wesley Moraes, than Diatta or Dennis. The fact that he will one day trump Oulare as the most lucrative Belgian in the history of Blauw-Zwart is already clear. A permanent place with the Red Devils, which he obviously still has to enforce himself now that the national coach is ‘finally’ granting him his chance, De Ketelaere would however promptly catapult to another level. The extra spotlights that Martinez provides are not unimportant in that sense.
The Spaniard can also lend a hand to Clement and co on the incoming side. Even more than last season, Club is struggling with a shortage deep in the point. Vincent Mannaert may therefore still be looking for a – temporary or otherwise – solution in January. During the summer mercato the names of Michy Batshuayi and Christian Benteke were already circulating in the corridors. The first eventually found another way out at Chelsea and moved to Crystal Palace, where Benteke remained on post out of love for London. Both still belong to the national selection, unlike Divock Origi. The still only 25-year-old Liverpool attacker was simply passed by the national coach, a clear signal that he must quickly move elsewhere.
BETTER THAN BATS & BENTEKE?
Since one plus one forms two, it would come as no surprise if Club knocked on Anfield again in the winter – eighteen months after Simon Mignolet’s stunt transfer. After all, now that his European Championship ticket is in danger, Origi may not immediately turn his nose at a possible return to Belgium. Unlike Batshuayi and Benteke, both of whom, unlike the Genk youth product, have previously worked in the Jupiler Pro League. Despite its many and undeniable qualities, it is of course still the question whether Origi – which, if there is anything to be discussed, is probably only feasible on a rental basis – meets the profile that Club needs. We can hardly call him a target man, any more than a purebred goal getter.
At club level, he is on 58 goals in 268 matches for Lille, Liverpool and Wolfsburg, with the Red Devils the counter is three goals in 29 international matches. The multipurpose striker has never scored double digits. Now the JPL is of course not the Ligue 1, Bundesliga or Premier League, but statistics to dream away are certainly not. In that sense, a killer like Batshuayi fits better into the plans, although Benteke might be more useful. Not only against closed defenses to smash the door open, but also as a grateful relay point in the front – a type that Clement does not have today. Martinez could therefore please Club even more by ignoring Benteke next time, after eight match days in England, good for 21 minutes as a substitute.
THANK YOU MARTINEZ
Of course, Origi will also remain more than welcome in Jan Breydel. Given the serious downer he just had to swallow from the national coach, combined with his complete lack of playing time in the Premier League, now may be the ideal time to make the first contacts. Should Club then succeed in forcing a breakthrough, his arrival in the winter could certainly count in terms of statement. It seems ambitious, but it is not impossible. Thanks to Martinez.
POLL: How much do you think De Ketelaere will ever yield for Club Brugge?
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