Mark van Bommel's First Belgium Squad: Serie A Influence

Mark van Bommel has wasted no time putting his stamp on Belgium.

The new Red Devils coach, preparing for a brutal Nations League group with Italy, France and Turkiye, has named his first squad – and Serie A is right at the heart of it.

Van Bommel’s Italian return

Belgium open their campaign away to Italy on September 25, Van Bommel’s debut in the dugout coming in a country he knows well. The former midfielder spent the 2011-12 season at Milan, and now heads back as the man in charge of a national team trying to reinvent itself.

The schedule is unforgiving. After that 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 time for easing in. This is straight into the deep end.

Strong Serie A flavour

Van Bommel’s first list leans heavily on Italian-based talent. Milan defender Koni De Winter gets the call, joined by Bologna’s new signing Arthur Theate. Kevin De Bruyne, now the marquee name in Napoli’s midfield, is in as expected, while Parma’s Mandela Keita offers energy in the centre of the pitch.

Higher up the field, Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere is rewarded after rebuilding his confidence in Bergamo, and Milan winger Diego Moreira adds flair out wide.

There is also a lingering Serie A connection in attack. Romelu Lukaku and Lois Openda may have left Italy only weeks ago, but both remain central to Belgium’s plans as the new era begins.

Experience, youth and big‑club steel

The squad blends familiar leaders with emerging names from Europe’s elite clubs.

In goal, Jari De Busser (AZ Alkmaar), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Chelsea) and Maarten Vandervoordt (RB Leipzig) will battle for the gloves, a quartet that underlines Belgium’s depth rather than a single undisputed No. 1.

At the back, Timothy Castagne (Fulham) and Maxime De Cuyper (Brighton) bring Premier League experience, while Zeno Debast (Sporting), De Winter (Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Nathan Ngoy (LOSC), Kyriani Sabbe (Club Brugge), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge) and Theate (Bologna) round out a defensive unit that mixes domestic stalwarts with upwardly mobile prospects.

Midfield remains a strength. De Bruyne (Napoli) is the obvious reference point, but he is surrounded by a solid supporting cast: Mandela Keita (Parma), Romeo Lavia (Chelsea), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Manchester United) and Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge). Technique, legs, leadership – Van Bommel has options in every profile.

Up front, the variety is striking. De Ketelaere (Atalanta) can float between the lines, while Malick Fofana (Sunderland), Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Newcastle United) and Mika Godts (PSG) add youthful edge. Lukaku (Fenerbahce) remains the reference point at centre-forward, with Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Moreira (Milan), Openda (Lyon) and Leandro Trossard (Bestikas) offering pace, movement and goals from wide and central roles.

A brutal group, a clear statement

Italy home and away. France home and away. Turkiye chasing an upset. For a new coach, it is as demanding a Nations League start as he could have drawn.

Van Bommel’s response? A squad that leans on players used to pressure – from Milan to Manchester, from Naples to Paris – and a clear nod to Serie A, the league that once shaped him and now supplies a core of his first Belgium side.

The fixtures will reveal whether this mix of familiar stars and fresh energy can carry Belgium through a group that looks more like a mini-tournament than a simple league phase. The Van Bommel era begins in Italy; by the time the Azzurri visit Brussels in mid-November, we will know if the Red Devils are truly ready to rise again.