De Bruyn: "I can still see myself sitting there, with Van den Brom"

FRIDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2019, 15:02 - lajoya
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INTERVIEWS Alexandre De Bruyn is playing professional football on the field in the Astridpark for the first time in his life on Sunday. For years he seemed destined to become one of the new stars of Anderlecht. Two serious knee injuries decided differently. But at the age of 25 he is finally a first division key player. At Sint-Truiden.


In May 2013, De Bruyn seemed ready to take over Anderlecht. "I can still see myself sitting there in John van den Brom's office. Youri Tielemans and I. We were the youngsters who would move on to the A-team," De Bruyn tells today in Het Nieuwsblad.

Unfortunately, fate decided otherwise. De Bruyn injured his knees during preparation. After many months of rehabilitation, he resumed training in January 2014. On the second practice session it went wrong with the other knee.

"Then my morality broke," it now sounds. "I didn't take that second rehabilitation seriously. Instead of going to the gym, I went out with friends. Sometimes I was out on the street until 3 am.

Back fit De Bruyn ended up at the U21. There he became a teammate of Anthony Vanden Borre, banned after his infamous interview. "Anthony and I got along well, but Anderlecht blamed me for that friendship afterwards. Nonsense, because we were always serious on the pitch."

A new contract did not come and in 2015 De Bruyn was without a club. A year later he was able to sign for Lommel in the first amateur. After 16 goals and 11 assists in 2017 he signed at STVV. After an adjustment year, he has become a fixed value this season.

The big return to his Anderlecht will follow on Sunday. "I hope I score. Not that I want to take revenge, but I want to show that I still exist. Sometimes you need time to break through."



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