Belgium's Nations League Squad: Serie A Stars Shine

Mark van Bommel has turned firmly towards Serie A for Belgium’s November push in the Nations League, calling up five Italy-based players – with Kevin De Bruyne and derby sensation Diego Moreira at the heart of his plans.

Belgium face a decisive double-header: Turkiye away on Thursday, November 12, then Italy in Brussels on Sunday, November 15. The margins are thin. France lead the group on 10 points after four games, Italy chase on seven, Belgium sit just behind on six, while Turkiye prop up the table without a point. One bad night and Belgium can slip out of contention. One big week and they are right back in the fight.

De Bruyne called amid Napoli storm

De Bruyne’s inclusion was never really in doubt, but it comes at a turbulent moment in his club season. At Napoli, the Partenopei have stumbled through the early months of 2026-27, losing seven of their first 14 competitive matches, two of those defeats arriving in the space of a week. The rhythm is off, the mood tense.

For Belgium, though, De Bruyne remains the reference point. Van Bommel will look to the Napoli playmaker to steady a side that has flickered rather than fully ignited in this Nations League campaign. He knows the stage, he knows the stakes, and he has already gone toe-to-toe with Italy in this group, battling Alessandro Romano in Rome in September.

Moreira arrives on a derby high

If De Bruyne brings gravitas, Diego Moreira brings a jolt of electricity.

The Milan attacker walks into camp on the back of a statement performance in the derby della Madonnina, where he scored and laid on two assists in a 3-1 win over reigning Serie A champions Inter at San Siro. It was the kind of display that changes how a player is talked about – and how he is defended.

Milan’s week then dipped with a flat 2-0 home loss to Ferencvaros in the Europa League, a night when Moreira only entered at half-time and could not turn the tide. Still, the derby will linger longer in Van Bommel’s mind than the European setback. Belgium need incision between the lines and a forward willing to seize big moments. Moreira has just shown he can do exactly that in one of the fiercest fixtures in world football.

De Ketelaere, Keita and Theate strengthen Italian spine

Belgium’s Italian spine does not end there. Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere is also in the squad, chasing double figures for international goals during this break. His evolution in Bergamo has been steady rather than spectacular, but for the national team he offers a valuable blend of size, touch and timing in the final third.

Mandela Keita, the Parma midfielder, earns another call as Van Bommel looks to refresh the engine room. He brings legs, aggression and the kind of vertical running that can open games against compact defences – qualities that will be vital in a tricky away trip to Turkiye.

At the back, Bologna defender Arthur Theate returns to anchor a defence that will be tested by both the intensity of Turkiye and the guile of Italy. His Serie A education has sharpened his positional sense and his one‑v‑one defending; now he must translate that into authority on the international stage.

Full Belgium squad

Van Bommel has again spread his net across Europe’s elite leagues, with Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A heavily represented.

• Goalkeepers: Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Maarten Vandevoort (RB Leipzig), Mike Penders (Chelsea), Jari De Busser (AZ Alkmaar).
• Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Kyriani Sabbe (Club Brugge), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Bologna), Josue Kongolo (Genk), Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge).
• Midfielders: Romeo Lavia (Chelsea), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Manchester United), Mandela Keita (Parma), Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge).

Belgium arrive in November knowing exactly what is at stake. De Bruyne’s authority, Moreira’s spark and the growing influence of the Serie A contingent will shape whether this campaign drifts away – or erupts into something far more serious.