Alter flawless - Casteels headed to Saudi Arabia to play as a goalkeeper for Wolfsburg.
The Belgian national team's goalkeeper, Koen Casteels, has moved to Saudi Arabia just before the European Championship's clash with Slovakia. On Monday, this former Bundesliga goalkeeper at VfL Wolfsburg signed a three-year deal with the first-division newcomer Al Qadsiah, located in the coastal city of Khobar.
Casteels represented Wolfsburg for nine years, but his contract didn't get renewed after its expiration this summer. During the European Championship in Germany, he'll serve as Belgium's first and second choice keeper since Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid is still recovering from an injury. Belgium's first match in the tournament is on the following Monday at 6:00 pm (ZDF and MagentaTV).
Al Qadsiah, a club with Aramco—Saudi’s largest oil company—backing them, holds significant sporting aspirations. They even tried to recruit Jose Mourinho as their coach, but Mourinho chose Fenerbahce Istanbul instead.
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- Koen Casteels' future in soccer now lies in the Persian Gulf, as he joins Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia.
- Despite Belgium's upcoming EM clash against Slovakia in Germany, Koen Casteels has already moved to Brussels' rival, leaving VfL Wolfsburg behind.
- With Al Qadsiah, Casteels joins a team backed by Saudi Arabia's largest oil company, Aramco, aiming to make a name in Europe's soccer scene.
- The European Championship could see Belgium's first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Real Madrid sidelined due to an injury, opening doors for Casteels as Belgium's backup.
- In the wide soccer world, transfer news doesn't skip Belgium or Germany, and Koen Casteels' move to Al Qadsiah signals a fresh start in his career.
- Germany's upcoming European Championship opponents Slovakia may have missed an opportunity by not securing Casteels' services amidst the club transfer season, as he stood out as a key player throughout his tenure at VfL Wolfsburg.
