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Mark van Bommel Names First Belgium Squad with Serie A Influence

Mark van Bommel has wasted no time putting his stamp on Belgium. The new head coach named his first Red Devils squad for a brutal Nations League group that throws them straight in against Italy, France and Turkiye – and he’s leaned heavily on Serie A.

Van Bommel’s Italy return

Belgium open away to Italy on September 25, Van Bommel’s first game in charge and a personal return to familiar territory. The former midfielder spent the 2011-12 season at Milan and now walks back into the peninsula with six Serie A-based players in his squad.

The schedule is unforgiving. After the trip to Italy, Belgium host France on September 28. Turkiye follow on October 2, then comes a visit to France on October 5. The group closes with two potentially decisive fixtures: away to Turkiye on November 12 and at home to Italy on November 15. No soft landings. No time to breathe.

Strong Serie A flavour

Van Bommel has turned to Italy for balance across the pitch.

  • Milan defender Koni De Winter earns a call, joined at the back by Bologna’s new signing Arthur Theate.
  • In midfield, Napoli’s Kevin De Bruyne provides the star wattage, with Parma’s Mandela Keita adding youthful energy.
  • Up front, Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere is rewarded for his resurgence, while Milan winger Diego Moreira offers width and direct running.

Two more familiar names hover in the background of that Serie A thread. Romelu Lukaku and Lois Openda only left Italian football in recent weeks, but both remain central to Belgium’s attacking plans.

Experience and new blood

Van Bommel’s list blends established figures with a clear generational shift.

  • In goal, Jari De Busser (AZ Alkmaar), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Chelsea) and Maarten Vandervoordt (RB Leipzig) will battle for the starting shirt.
  • Defensively, Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Maxime De Cuyper (Brighton), Zeno Debast (Sporting), De Winter (Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Nathan Ngoy (LOSC), Kyriani Sabbe (Club Brugge), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge) and Theate (Bologna) form a deep pool of options.
  • Midfield carries real pedigree: De Bruyne (Napoli), Keita (Parma), Romeo Lavia (Chelsea), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Manchester United) and Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge). Creativity, control, and enough legs to press high if Van Bommel wants to tilt the pitch.
  • Up front, the names speak for themselves. De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Malick Fofana (Sunderland), Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Newcastle United), Mika Godts (PSG), Lukaku (Fenerbahce), Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Moreira (Milan), Openda (Lyon) and Leandro Trossard (Bestikas) give Belgium power, pace and variety across the front line.

It’s a demanding group, a demanding schedule, and a demanding first test for a new coach. Van Bommel has turned to Serie A and a core of proven internationals to carry him through it. Now the question is simple: can this mix stand up to Italy and France when the Nations League pressure hits?

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