Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BELGIAN BOYS SOLD ME ON CREME DE LA PREM
NEW Wolves star Leander Dendoncker revealed his Belgium team-mates urged him to join them in the Premier League.
The midfielder now reckons it will be like playing in the Champions League every weekend.
He has joined promoted Wolves on loan from Anderlecht ahead of an agreed £12million deal next summer.
The 23-year-old played for Belgium against England in the group stage at the World Cup (right).
He was the only player from a star-studded squad, including Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, who was still based in Belgium. Dendoncker said: “A move to the Premier League is a dream for every footballer.
“My international team-mates say it is the biggest league in the world.
“They told me to come here and that I would become a better player because playing in the Premier League is like playing Champions League every week.
“I don’t think that is a lie because I think the best players are here.”
Dendoncker has won six caps for Belgium, played 171 times for Anderlecht and has Champions League experience.
He has previously been scouted by some of Europe’s top clubs, including Manchester United, who were said to be watching him earlier this year.
He becomes Wolves’ sixth signing of the transfer window and is available to make his debut against Everton on Saturday.
Boss Nuno Espirito Santo has also signed Adama Traore, Rui Patricio, Jonny Castro Otto, Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez.
Dendoncker added: “This is an ambitious club – that’s what attracts me the most.”