The De Winter Case: Are There Consequences for the Milan Defender?

The De Winter case in Belgium. The Milan defender has decided not to respond to head coach Mark van Bommel’s call-up for the upcoming Nations League matches against Turkey and Italy. This decision appears to be linked to his limited playing time with the national team; the Rossoneri center back hasn’t taken the field since June, when he played a brief stint in the friendly against Croatia.

In fact, De Winter has not played a single minute in the Red Devils’ last eleven matches, including those played during the World Cup and the first four games under Van Bommel’s tenure. This situation has prompted the player to make a bold decision, declining the call-up for the upcoming international break.

The Belgian head coach himself confirmed the news, making no secret of his disappointment, though he acknowledged the player’s right to choose. “Koni De Winter didn’t feel comfortable in his situation and decided not to come. It’s his choice; there’s nothing I can do about it. I spoke with him and explained the situation to him—as a coach, a former player, and a father. We have to accept it, but this will have long-term consequences,” Van Bommel said.

These remarks suggest that the decision could affect the defender’s future call-ups; at 24, he has already made eight appearances for the senior national team. In his place, the head coach has called up the young Josué Kongolo, born in 2006 and currently with Genk, for his first call-up to the senior national team. The defender was chosen over other candidates such as Spileers and Smets.