De Ketelaere does not see himself ahead of Romelu Lukaku at the Red Devils

Charles De Ketelaere spoke to our microphone and several journalists before the match against Italy, the first part of the interview having been published this morning. In this second part, the young Belgian striker discusses his role within the Red Devils and his ambitions.

Vision of the Nations League and the match against Italy

The Nations League was won by Portugal, Spain and France, according to De Ketelaere. “It’s always something beautiful to win the Nations League. No one puts this competition on the same level as a World Cup or a Euro, but the matches still have to be played,” he said. He regards these fixtures as good tests and great encounters.

He emphasized that he prefers facing Italy now rather than in a friendly. “A friendly against Italy is less important than a Nations League match,” he added.

According to him, not having taken part in the World Cup was a huge disappointment for the Italians. He believes they see the situation as the start of a new cycle, with constant pressure surrounding the national team. He notes the arrival of a new manager and the call‑up of many young players.

De Ketelaere says he knows about 95 % of the Italian players, thanks to the many duels in Serie A. “I know most of the players, there were a few I didn’t know,” he clarified.

Charles De Ketelaere hails summer as a peak despite Atalanta criticism

Transfer aspirations and future at Atalanta

He acknowledges that several clubs showed interest this summer, but he does not know the exact amount requested. He mentioned a figure below 50 million euros, which he already considers substantial for Atalanta. He adds that the Premier League has more clubs capable of offering such sums.

De Ketelaere says he is happy at Atalanta, where he has spent three seasons after a year in Milan. He stresses the importance of playing regularly and enjoying himself on the pitch. At 25 years old, he still aims to play at the highest level and fight for titles.

Many Red Devils have made big transfers this summer, but he remains very realistic about it. He recalls that he was already open to a proposal last year, never putting pressure on Atalanta. He respects the club and understands that several conditions must be met for a transfer to materialise.

Vincenzo Ciuro and Silvio Proto comment on the Red Devils in Italy

Finally, he shared his view on Mark van Bommel, Rudi Garcia and Romelu Lukaku, without detailing their performances. His comments show that he closely follows developments within the staff and the group of the Red Devils.