Jose Machino 
Anderlecht and Antwerp had been linked, but Gaëtan Coucke‘s future appears to lie in Saudi Arabia. The young Belgian goalkeeper has already been spotted at his new club.
Coucke previously played for KRC Genk and was between the sticks for Malines since 2020, but his contract at KV expired at the end of last season. Clubs like Anderlecht and Antwerp were interested.
A lucrative adventure
Anderlecht were looking for a new goalkeeper after Kasper Schmeichel’s free transfer and Antwerp wanted to prepare for a potential departure of Jean Butez. In the end, the interest didn’t materialize, and Coucke opted for a lucrative challenge in Saudi Arabia.
The goalkeeper has already been seen at the training camp of the newly promoted club Al-Orubah, although they haven’t officially announced his arrival yet. However, it seems the 25-year-old will start working in Saudi Arabia. He follows in the footsteps of Koen Casteels and Yannick Carrasco.
Former top talent
Coucke came through the famous KRC Genk goalkeeping academy and was considered a top talent. That’s why he played for Belgium’s youth national teams. Due to strong competition, Coucke was never able to earn a call-up to the Red Devils. Now, the goalkeeper seems to be opting for the big money in the Middle East.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings