Leicester City defender Wout Faes has admitted his ‘mouth felt open’ when he first arrived at the club and saw their training facilities.
Faes joined Leicester on deadline day of the summer transfer window as a late replacement for Wesley Fofana, who managed to secure a protracted transfer to Chelsea.
The move is undoubtedly the biggest of his career to date, having previously player for Anderlecht’s youth set up before spells at KV Oostende and Reims.
Leicester is a big step up from that, not only because they are a Premier League side but in terms of the money involved.
That’s something he’s noticed early on in his Foxes career, revealing he was left open mouthed at the training ground.
“I’ve been here for a month now and still don’t know every nook and cranny of our training complex,” he told Het Niuewsblad.
“My mouth fell open here: so big and professional. At the reception – with all due respect – there are no Ikea tables, but marble tables and there are works of art hanging.
“Everything here is sophisticated. Of course, I have good guides like Castagne, Praet and Tielemans. I still trained with Youri when we were at school in Anderlecht.
Faes’ focus is now on helping Leicester overcome a poor start to the season to escape early relegation form and move up the table.
He’s been a regular for them in the last few games, starting the 6-2 defeat to Tottenham and the 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest earlier this week.
Regular playing time is what he is hoping for moving forwards, with his eyes firmly on the World Cup and a place in Belgium’s squad for the tournament in Qatar.
A starting spot for his country had not been on offer during his time at Reims, and he admits Belgium boss Roberto Martinez advised he move on.
“I never thought I have to go there or there to get to the World Cup,” he added.
“Of course, I spoke to the national coach in June and Roberto Martinez also agreed that it was time to take a step up. He said I could always call him for advice, but in the end I never did. I am old and wise enough to make the right choices myself.
“The facts are what they are. I was there for the last four selections every time and knock on the door, but it remains difficult to get playing minutes.
“It’s waiting for a real chance, but I’m not going to shout that I have to play. If I perform every week in the Premier League, it will stand out more. Also, with the national coach.
“Then the whole world will see that, and it will be an extra asset for the Devils, surely?”
