Genoa defender Koni De Winter has been linked with transfers to Inter Milan and Tottenham and first moved from Belgium to Juventus at just 16 to forge a career in Italy
Koni de Winter
Koni De Winter is part of a new generation of Belgium internationals
There may be few more difficult tasks than emerging from the shadow of Belgium's golden generation of defenders. An esteemed list of footballing heritage.
Vincent Kompany, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Thomas Vermaelen had a special place in the hearts of many for their exploits on the international stage and in the Premier League. Attempting to help Belgium bounce back to their best and replacing serious talent is no easy feat for a new crop of stars.
But Genoa ace Koni De Winter, 22, is one such player looking to establish himself in his own right. "We grew up watching these players, you know," said the versatile defender.
"So for us now, to have the chance to come up in the Belgium squad and then continue the rise that they were on, it's always nice.
"Every national team game since you were a kid, the whole family is watching, the whole country is watching. So of course, you look up to these people.
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His hero? "To me Vincent Kompany was the captain. He was the leader of the Belgium squad. An idol that I had from when I was young, but not that I try to model my game after him, I tried to take a little bit from everybody."
De Winter already has his own admirers. Inter Milan, Napoli, Tottenham, West Ham and Crystal Palace are among the clubs interested in his signature, with the defender understood to be available for £25.2million
The twice-capped Belgium international has already collected a decent amount of experince. De Winter moved to Juventus as a 16-year-old and his six years registered in Turin afforded him the ability to learn from defensive icons in Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
Koni De Winter for Juventus at u17s
"That was really nice," he said. "Especially when you are at such a young age and you see how how these people train day in day out, how they play the games. Just by training with them, you could you could steal so much.
"I was at times in awe of how they how they play it, how they managed to be themselves every day in training. I'm really thankful for this."
De Winter had rarely left Belgium in his youth before making the move to Italy. A new language and living in a different culture was a 'shock' but produced a 'really lovely' experience for a teen moving into adulthood.
Koni De Winter playing for Juventus
While he earned two European outings in the Juventus first team, he move on loan to Empoli before an initial loan to Genoa, saw him ultiamtely join the club permanently.
And De Winter cannot escape legendary footballers. Patrick Vieira was appointed Genoa boss in November 2024 and brings experience of World Cup, Champions League, Premier League and Serie A glory. De Winter is too young to have bore witness to Vieira at his peak, he knows of his legend.
"I never watched him but obviously I know the name. I know how big of a legend is in English football and the world in general. I think we have a good relationship it's nice to work with his staff.
Koni De Winter celebrates
"So he's intense because he wants the best for everybody. He wants to take the maximum out of his players but still in a fun way and in a good way.
"I think his biggest thing is the mentality you need to have day in and day out, every game. The mentality that you always give everything to be better than everybody and show yourself to the fullest."
And the former Arsenal star still retains a good enough touch to join his side's rondos while avoiding being forced into the centre too.
De Winter may still be uncertain of where his future could lead him, with speculation even seeing Manchester United named and a possible move to Roma being touted alongside his manager, but he is ambitious too. His brief Champions League experiences remains a motivating factor, while there is a World Cup awaiting in 12 months time if he can maintain his place in the national side.
"Yeah, this is really a dream of mine. You know, when you hear the song of the Champions League it is something special.
"I think I just want to take everything out of this football career that I'm building. I like the experience that I'm making, I have a lot of stories to tell."
"I think this is always my my target," he adds on Belgium . "Perform well, achieve everything that you can achieve. Of course, this is a long-term objective, I want to be in every selection possible."
Koni de Winter has two caps for Belgium
The magnitude of representing his nation in every facet of his career is not lost on De Winter either. The admiration in his voice is clear for the figures of Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku and the stardom they achieved despite coming from a nation of just 11.8million people.
"In Belgium, we are not a lot of people but the careers of Lukaku and Hazard and these guys... how big stars they became. it's really nice. I think it's special if you have this magnitude coming from Belgium."
But with the words of his manager on his mind, De Winter is simply focused on the next game and next training session and then 'we will see what happens'.
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