Former Belgium international Thomas Chatelle applauds Charles de Ketelaere for rebuffing Premier League outfit Leeds United before securing a ‘dream transfer’ to AC Milan, speaking to RTBF.
De Ketelaere’s decision to choose Milan over West Yorkshire hasn’t gone down well with everyone. In fact, one observer suggested that the former Club Brugge talisman was making the ‘mistake of the year’ when giving an exciting Leeds side the cold shoulder.
But that rather misses the point somewhat.
De Ketelaere’s reluctance to join Luis Sinisterra, Tyler Adams and co at Elland Road is no slight on Leeds United. Or at least, it shouldn’t be seen that way.
It is, instead, more a reflection of how alluring a destination AC Milan has become for some of Europe’s most exciting youngsters.
The Rossoneri, after all, snatched the Serie A crown from rivals Inter last term despite boasting one of the youngest squads in the division. One of the youngest squads on the continent, in fact.
Rafael Leao, Theo Hernandez, Sandro Tonali, Fikayo Tomori, Pierre Kalulu and Ismael Bennacer are all aged 24 or younger. 21-year-old De Ketelaere, then, is in very good company.
Charles de Ketelaere chooses AC Milan over Leeds United
“It’s a dream transfer for that boy,” Chatelle reflects. “He definitely wanted to go to Milan and not to Leeds, who made a better financial offer. Good for him that he was able to go where he wanted.
“The transfer is deserved.”
Milan paid around £30 million for De Ketelaere, while offering the silky forward a £40,000-a-week contract. Leeds were more than happy to match those figures, but will now have to shift their focus elsewhere with the likes of Arnaut Kalimuendo, Che Adams and Julian Quinones seemingly on Victor Orta’s hitlist.
“You can say that that (the £30 million transfer fee) is a bit too early for perhaps the best player in our league,” Chatelle adds.
“Isn’t it too early to move to a top European club? We’ll see.”
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