Weight of 'new Eden Hazard' pushes Francesco Antonucci to thrive in Qatar

While the promises of a “new Eden Hazard” have long fueled the dreams of the Jupiler Pro League, Francesco Antonucci is now enjoying a brilliant season in Qatar, far from the European spotlights. The contrast between the expectations created at Anderlecht and the reality at Al‑Shahania is evident in his three goals and two assists in four matches.

A career shaped by football giants

Initially trained at Charleroi and then at Anderlecht, Antonucci left Neerpede at fifteen to join Ajax, before moving to Monaco where he trained alongside Kylian Mbappé, Radamel Falcao and other stars. This trajectory, supported by Roger Vanden Stock, then president of the Sporting, made him one of the club’s favourites in Belgium.

Life in Doha: between football and everyday life

At twenty‑seven, he begins his fourth season at Al‑Shahania, where he said that signing there was “one of the best decisions of my life”, both sportingly and personally. He lives in Doha with his wife and child, returns to Belgium twice a year, and appreciates the safety, pleasant climate and friendliness of the locals.

He also recounts having recently played against renowned players such as Brahimi, Belhanda and Verratti, noting that Brahimi remains the best dribbler he has ever seen. The stadiums, once almost empty, now host up to ten thousand supporters, especially during matches at Lusail Stadium, where he stepped onto the World Cup final pitch two weeks ago.

European memories and Belgian ties

Louis Janssen, former Mauve and Diablotin, recalls that Antonucci was already regarded as a “pure‑blood number 10” from a very young age, with rumors linking him to Barcelona, Manchester City, Milan or Chelsea. He remembers a training camp at Anderlecht in 2009‑2010, where he spent a week in Doha with the Belgian club.

The player also mentions the presence of other Belgians in Qatar, such as Julien De Sart, with whom he shared rehabilitation after a foot injury that kept him out for three to four months.

Off the pitch, Antonucci describes the local cuisine – rice, lamb and vegetables eaten with the hands – and desert outings, where one lives under a tent equipped with everything needed, from a volleyball net to a television to follow the matches.