Red Devils
Dries Mertens: ‘I am very happy with how things are going at the Devils at the moment.’ — © EPA
Officially, Dries Mertens (36) has not yet said goodbye to the Belgian national team, but the chance seems to be getting smaller and smaller that he will be called up again. “I completely understand it,” Mertens said at Extra Time.
He is doing well at Galatasaray in Turkey, but does not fit into the plans of Domencio Tedesco, the national coach of the Red Devils. “It no longer hurts me that I am no longer called up,” Mertens said during the intro of the football talk show Extra Time.
‘I had a very nice conversation with Tedesco. I have gained enormous respect for him. I thought it was very nice that he came to Istanbul especially to talk to me. He explained his vision very clearly. I am very happy with how things are going at the Devils at the moment. The young guys and the older pawns complement each other well.’
Although there seems to be no future for Mertens with the Red Devils, the 109-time international keeps the door ajar. ‘I told Tedesco: If it ever becomes possible, I will come. But I also understand that he chooses younger guys who are currently more suitable and perhaps even better than me. Actually, that is the best choice you can make. I completely understand,” said Mertens, who rules out a return to the Jupiler Pro League.
‘Will I end my career next year? It’s fifty-fifty. What if Jan Vertonghen called to ask if I would play football for Anderlecht for another year? Then I clearly say no. But I saw on Sunday what a wonderful assist he gave.’
2023-11-27 21:24:10
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