Just before the start of the play-offs, Antwerp announced that it will soon say goodbye to Ritchie De Laet. It is not just the special timing of that news that raises some eyebrows here and there.
With more than 200 games in the red and white shirt, the 35-year-old defender is a modern monument at the Bosuil, but lately physical troubles are increasingly taking their toll. For example, De Laet was in the sickbay several times this season with all kinds of injuries.
End of an era
Across all competitions, he only appeared at kick-off 20 times, although Mark van Bommel otherwise prefers Jelle Bataille and Owen Wijndal at the backs. Due to the latter’s red card, De Laet was allowed to come on as a substitute on Saturday in Anderlecht.
The two-time Red Devil can come in handy in the coming weeks, starting next Saturday against Genk, but afterwards his story in Deurne-Noord is finally over. A decision that, according to Patrick Goots, he probably did not make himself.
Antwerp dumps De Laet
“A signal that Antwerp did not want to extend its contract for a year, otherwise that would have happened,” it concludes Gazette of Antwerp, where he also asks himself the necessary questions about that choice. “Ritchie could still be of value in the dressing room with his experience.”
The question now is whether De Laet will immediately call it a day as a professional footballer and, just like Faris Haroun, take up another position at the Great Old. “Or does he feel physically fit to play football for another year or two?” Goots refuses to rule anything out.
Tags: Antwerp unrelenting reason Laets farewell
