2023-09-27 15:29:00
He hasn’t announced it yet. He may never do it. For the moment, Eden Hazard is in any case considered “without a club”. Because his contract at Real Madrid was terminated twelve months in advance and because he politely declined the few offers received during the summer.
Eden Hazard is, however, not the only Belgian in this situation. Nor the only former international. Some also turned down offers, while others simply did not receive them. A quick overview of these ex-Red Devils, ex-Imps or former youth selections – known and less known – now “unemployed”.
Three ex-Red Devils
Radja Nainggolan is the best known on the list. “If I’m still without a club, it’s a question of age and money. I’m waiting for the right proposal,” he assured at the beginning of September in an interview with ReteSport. After an average end of the season with SPAL in Serie B, the Ninja might still see himself taking on a (final?) challenge at 35 years old. “I can still give a lot to clubs despite my age. I have no reason to think otherwise.” In the meantime, the former Red Devil (30 caps) took up padel quite intensively with former teammates like Daniele De Rossi or Daniele Conti.
Admired in Rome, Nainggolan gives his opinion on the arrival of Romelu Lukaku: “If he feels loved, he has so much to give…”
He might also have had a great career in Italy. Luis Pedro Cavanda (2 caps) was in any case heading towards a much better destiny, following his debut at Lazio in 2010. His stints at Trabzonspor then Galatasaray were also encouraging. It was also during his first season in Turkey that the right-back convinced Marc Wilmots to call him up to the Devils. But what happened next turned out to be much more complicated. And despite his attempt to relaunch from Standard (2018-2020), Cavanda found himself without a club at the end of the 2019-2020 season. It was only in 2022 that Neuchâtel Xamax offered him a contract, except that his time in Switzerland was limited to six appearances, due to various physical glitches. At 32, he is now looking for another challenge.
Yassine El Ghanassy (33 years old) also only tasted the Red Devils twice, in 2011. Twelve years later and following having experienced a tumultuous journey – 9 clubs (with stints in Norway, Hungary, Greece , in the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia) and a few convictions for speeding – the native of La Louvière finds himself without a contract. And this has been the case since July 2022 and his departure from Zakynthos.
Four ex-Imps
The journey of Charly Musonda Jr (26 years old) was not easy either. Especially because of his serious injury suffered in 2018 which cut his career short by almost four years. The former Chelsea player thought he would relaunch for the 2022-2023 season at Levante (Spanish D2), but his contract was finally terminated a month ago.
Another former great hope: Andy Kawaya (27 years old). The former Anderlecht striker has also turned to Spain in recent seasons. However, he never managed to win, both in D2 and D3. Released by Cultural Leonesa last June, he is now looking for another opportunity.
Andy Kawaya has had a series of struggles since leaving Belgium: “In the evening, I thought regarding quitting, in the morning I got up re-motivated”
Two other former Belgian Espoirs – both from Standard – are today unemployed: Danilo (33), one of Wamberto’s two sons who has not had a club since the summer of 2022, and Joachim Van Damme (32 years old), loaned by Standard last season to Beveren (D2). He only played four matches in the Standard jacket.
Eight other ex-internationals
A great promise who left to continue his training at Manchester United (2015-2018), Indy Boonen (24 years old) spent five decent seasons at Ostend (75 matches), but his fragility did not allow him to explode. The former U19 international was not extended at the end of last season. François Marquet (28 years old, ex-Standard, Mouscron and Waasland) and Enes Saglik (32 years old, ex-Charleroi and Mouscron) were also released this summer by their respective clubs, FC Craiova and Adanaspor. Same fate for Maecky Ngombo (28 years old), who also played for the Belgian U19s, released by Messina (Italian D3).
The last four stopped at the Belgian U18 or U17 stage and were unable to confirm the expectations placed on them: Adrien Bongiovanni (24 years old, ex-Monaco, Cercle, S16 and Charleroi B), Emmanuel Matuta (21 , ex-PSV and Groningen), Ayrton Mboko (25, ex-Standard, Union SG, Beerschot) and Chris Kalulika (21, ex-Anderlecht, Helmond Sport). And despite their young age, their career was recently put on hold. The fault lies with choices made by the players themselves, performances below expectations or various other problems. They now all hope to find an employer.
Soon a contract for Adrien Bongiovanni in Charleroi? He almost scored… half of the goals in N1
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