Injury surge and staff shake‑up as Anderlecht rebuilds with Vitor Bruno

RSC Anderlecht faces a third injury blow as 17‑year‑old midfielder Nathan De Cat sustains a muscle strain during Friday’s training, joining Lucas Hey and Ilan Camara on the injury list just days after new head coach Vitor Bruno postponed the friendly against Sporting Hasselt to install his tactics.

The friendly match against Sporting Hasselt, originally set for Saturday, was postponed after Vitor Bruno, the newly appointed head coach, said he wanted to concentrate on installing his playing principles and building group cohesion.

Since his arrival, the club’s medical room has been busy, with Lucas Hey and Ilan Camara both suffering fractures, adding to the injury tally.

Nathan De Cat, a key 17‑year‑old player, incurred a muscle injury in the last training session on Friday; the club has not released details, but Le Soir reports he will miss about a week of action. The club expects him to be sidelined for only a short week.

De Cat also received his secondary school diploma on Friday, indicating his off‑field milestones continue despite the setback.

The injuries coincide with a staff overhaul: Bram Geers, who had been hired by Bayern Munich to head the medical department, saw his contract terminated over the weekend, and Pedro Oliveira, arriving with Vitor Bruno, now oversees physical preparation.

While the medical setbacks test the squad’s depth, interest in acquiring De Cat is expected to continue, and the club must balance player recovery with Vitor Bruno’s drive to embed his tactical vision.

The juxtaposition of injury woes and organisational change underscores the challenge Anderlecht faces as it seeks to translate Vitor Bruno’s philosophy into results.