De Bruyne to skip Nations League fixtures to manage workload

Kevin De Bruyne has asked to skip Belgium’s remaining Nations League fixtures for 2024 in order to manage his workload, coach Domenico Tedesco has revealed.

On Friday, Tedesco named his 23-man squad for the Red Devils’ upcoming games against Italy and France in Group A2, with De Bruyne the headline omission.

De Bruyne played both of Belgium’s games in the September international break, as they beat Israel 3-1 before losing 2-0 to France in Lyon.

After that latter match, he made headlines by questioning the mentality and fighting spirit of Tedesco’s team, but he has reaffirmed his commitment to continuing on the international stage until at least the 2026 World Cup.

With Manchester City facing a gruelling schedule this term after qualifying for the first 32-team Club World Cup, the midfielder has taken steps to protect his fitness.

“I had a long phone conversation with Kevin. He has an injury, but he is very motivated to continue with the Red Devils and to play the World Cup in 2026,” Tedesco said when announcing his latest squad.

“He has asked to skip this camp and also November, to take care of his body. The schedule has become even busier due to the Club World Cup.

“That is why he is not there now and in November. But when it really counts – the World Cup – he will be there.”

Two fixtures coming up. #DEVILTIME pic.twitter.com/23EXW6y6KT

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) October 4, 2024

Tedesco was also asked if De Bruyne’s comments last month had led to any negative repercussions in the squad, but he insisted the controversy surrounding them was unwarranted.

“Kevin is a big player, but also a big personality,” he added. “We talked after what happened in the last match. Of course he was emotional, he always wants to win. But he never mentioned names in the media. We just have to deal with it.

“In the media it has become a big item, just because it was Kevin who said it. But in the dressing room it is not a big topic.”

Romelu Lukaku is the other big-name absentee from Belgium’s latest squad, with the Red Devils’ all-time leading scorer failing to win a recall after being dropped last month, despite recording four Serie A goal involvements for Napoli in a positive start to the season.

Belgium squad: Koen Casteels (Al Qadsiah), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig), Sebastiaan Bornauw (Wolfsburg), Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting Lisbon), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge), Koni De Winter (Genoa), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Matte Smets (Genk), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Arne Engels (Augsburg), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Johan Bakayoko (PSV), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Malick Fofana (Lyon), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig) Cyril Ngonge (Napoli), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal).