Koni De Winter Snubs Belgium Call-Up Amidst Van Bommel's Warning
Koni De Winter will spend the international break in Milan, not with Belgium – and his decision has lit a fuse around his national-team future.
The 24-year-old centre-back has ruled himself out of Belgium’s upcoming fixtures against Turkey on 12 November and Italy on 15 November, opting not to join up with the squad after growing frustrated with his role under Mark van Bommel.
This is not a snap reaction. It has been brewing.
De Winter has not played a single minute in Belgium’s four Nations League group matches so far, all high-profile encounters against Italy, France and Turkey. He watched them all from the sidelines, an unused option in a defence that never truly turned to him.
On Friday, when Van Bommel named his latest squad, the Milan defender’s name was missing. The coach did not hide the reason.
“Koni De Winter is absent because he didn't feel comfortable in his situation and decided not to come. It's his choice, I can't do anything about it,” Van Bommel said at his press conference.
The message was blunt. The warning that followed was even sharper.
A coach’s warning
Van Bommel explained that De Winter’s discontent stretches back to the World Cup and has simmered through recent months, fuelled by the lack of minutes in major games. Before announcing the squad, the coach spoke directly with the defender.
“I spoke to him and explained the situation, as a coach, a former player and a father,” Van Bommel said. “You have to accept it, but it has long-term consequences. He's 24 and he's a responsible person.”
Those words landed heavily in Belgium. Local media have already interpreted them as a clear sign: De Winter, capped eight times, may have shut the door on more than just this international window. He might have jeopardised his place for future breaks as well.
Van Bommel did not spell that out explicitly. He did not need to. The tone did it for him.
Club mainstay, international bystander
What makes the stand-off more striking is the contrast between De Winter’s status with Belgium and his importance at Milan.
The defender joined Milan from Genoa in the summer of 2025 for around €20 million. In his first season at San Siro he played 26 times and scored once, a solid return for a defender adapting to a bigger stage and heavier expectations.
Under Ruben Amorim, his role has grown. De Winter has become a first-choice centre-back, preferred ahead of the injured Matteo Gabbia. He has already made 10 Serie A appearances this season and featured four times in the Europa League.
He is not just making up the numbers; he is part of the spine. The only recent blemish came in Thursday’s 2-0 home defeat to Ferencvaros, a night when Milan collectively laboured and De Winter struggled along with them.
Even so, his trajectory at club level points upward. That only sharpens the question: how long will a defender starting regularly for Milan tolerate being a spectator with his country?
While De Winter steps back, one of his team-mates steps forward. Milan winger Diego Moreira has been called up by Belgium, a reminder that the national team door is not closed to San Siro’s talent – just not, for now, to this particular centre-back.
Belgium move on without him
Belgium, for their part, move on. The calendar does not pause for one player’s frustration.
The trip to Turkey on 12 November looms, followed by the clash with Italy on 15 November, and Van Bommel will go into those matches with a reshaped squad and some familiar firepower returning.
Jeremy Doku is back after recovering from injury at Manchester City, a major boost to Belgium’s attacking options and a direct threat to defenders in one-on-one situations. His presence increases the competition across the front line and raises the tempo of the side.
Mika Godts, who had enjoyed a clearer path into the team in Doku’s absence, now faces fresh pressure for his place. The margins tighten; the standards rise.
At the other end of the pitch, Van Bommel has loaded up on goalkeepers, naming Jari De Busser as one of four options in the squad. It is a sign of how much he values security in a period of transition – and perhaps how little patience he has for uncertainty elsewhere.
A line crossed?
For now, De Winter turns his attention back to Milan and to Amorim, who continues to trust him as a starter. The defender’s challenge is straightforward: keep playing, keep improving, keep making himself impossible to ignore.
The challenge with Belgium is more complicated. Van Bommel has made it clear that every decision carries weight. Walking away from a call-up, even once, does not vanish when the next international window comes around.
At 24, with a major club on his CV and eight caps already behind him, De Winter stands at a crossroads. Has he made a calculated gamble that his club form will eventually force Belgium’s hand? Or has he taken a step that his national coach will not quickly forgive?
