RSC Anderlecht is handling a major transfer, a European draw, and preparations for two key matches. The club sold Nathan Saliba for a significant fee, received a challenging Europa League schedule, and is focused on the return leg against Kairat Almaty and the upcoming derby.
Anderlecht has sold midfielder Nathan Saliba to Spanish side Villarreal. The Canadian signed a contract until 2031 and the transfer reportedly brought in 15 million euros. Saliba joined from CF Montreal last summer and played 50 games for the Mauves. The transfer income arrives as Anderlecht sits tenth in the Jupiler Pro League with three points from two games. The club has scored two goals and conceded two. The sale of Saliba provides financial flexibility, but the sporting challenge remains significant with a six-point gap to leaders Club Brugge.
Sporza Voetbal revealed the Europa League draw. Anderlecht will face the likes of Olympique Lyon, Olympique Marseille, and Red Bull Salzburg. The schedule also brings reunions with former players Nathan De Cat at Hoffenheim and Noah Sadiki at Sunderland. Other opponents include Dinamo Zagreb, Jagiellonia Białystok, and OFI Crete. The League Phase starts on September 16th and runs until January 28th. The top eight qualify directly for the round of 16. The full match calendar will be released on Sunday.
Coach Vítor Bruno warned in a press conference against underestimating the return leg against Kairat Almaty. Anderlecht won the first leg in Kazakhstan 0-3, but the coach stressed the task is only half complete. "That would be a lack of respect," Bruno said. Striker Mihajlo Cvetković confirmed his full focus is on RSCA and he is not thinking about leaving. He said, "My full focus is on RSCA. I do my best to help the team." The coach indicated he does not want to rotate, despite some absences due to injuries and administrative issues.
Goalkeeper Colin Coosemans spoke to Sporza Voetbal about the confidence in the group after European qualification. He praised the serenity within the club but pointed to the long road ahead. "We have to keep confirming it every week," the keeper said. The immediate next test is the away match against Union Saint-Gilloise on August 30th. Union currently sits seventh. Coosemans acknowledged the importance of the Brussels derby for the fans. The current standings and form can be followed on our standings and stats pages.
The coming days are decisive for Anderlecht's season trajectory. After the return against Kairat comes the derby, followed by a break in the league schedule for the first European fixtures. The team must translate the positive European momentum into league points, where a gap to the top already exists. The full calendar is on our fixtures page.
