Utter codswallop.
They had an injury, which meant he got a call up. You’re not calling up someone to national squad unless you think they have massive potential.
Also on the bench that day was Samuel Mbangula. Also eligible for the U21s, and also an attacker. Valued at 12million. Has only made 32 appearances for Juventus this season. And he still has 0 caps for Belgium.
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The only incorrect thing I said was that Bassette hadn’t been picked for the Belgian U21s since. He has played twice since and even started and scored in their March game vs Andorra. Apologies for my sloppy error.
For the details of his full international debut though I was right. He was moved from the u21 bench in the first playoff leg vs Czechia to the full national bench for the dead rubber nations league game vs Isreal (played in Budapest because of the ongoing conflict in Gaza). You make it sound like he was the next cab off the rank and drafted into the full squad but there were attackers ahead of him in the u21 selection who stayed with the younger squad for their crucial play off second leg vs Czechia.
Mbangula, an out and out winger, was already with the full squad for the game against Italy. Against Isreal he was the only outfield Belgian player not to get onto the pitch. From what I can work out from his stats he’s had a decent season at Juventus but I really doubt anyone is buying him for £12m.
Bassette came on in the fourth minute of injury time vs Isreal and didn’t touch the ball. He went back to the u21 bench for the second leg vs Czechia and hasn’t been selected for the full squad since.