KRC Genk goalkeeper Hendrik Van Crombrugge has revealed he turned down a move to Nottingham Forest in the January transfer window after deciding it wasn’t best for his family.
The goalkeeper has been speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws regarding his move to Genk, who he joined in the summer transfer window.
That deal came following months of speculation about his future at Anderlecht, after he had found himself out of the picture in favour of highly rated Bart Verbruggen.
He had been close to an exit in the January transfer window, when Nottingham Forest made their move for him as a replacement for the injured Dean Henderson.
That deal looked likely to go through, but Van Crombrugge decided to stay where he was until the end of the season, with Nottingham Forest eventually signing Keylor Navas instead.
He, though, says it was a personal matter, as he did not believe a move to England was best for him or, more importantly, his family.
“I received that call from my agent in the last hours of the winter mercato,” he said.
“At that moment I was standing at the school gate and had to make a decision with a snap of my fingers. Anderlecht were very happy to let me go.
“I couldn’t suddenly turn my family’s world upside down. I respected the decision to stand aside. So, Anderlecht had to accept that I would stay for a few more months.
“A football career is too short to have regrets. My family is sacred and will always come first. I had made a list of destinations in advance where I would go.
“Germany was on that list because my wife and children speak fluent German. England was not among them.”
