Witsel confirms Girona exit, rules out Standard Liège return ahead of World Cup

Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel has confirmed he will depart Girona following the club’s relegation to the second division, ruling out a return to his former club, Standard Liège. The 37-year-old, whose contract expires on 30 June, made the statement while preparing for Belgium’s World Cup opener against Egypt in Seattle. Witsel, who reversed his 2023 retirement to rejoin the national team in 2024, is set to play in his fourth World Cup.

Speaking in French on Friday, Witsel clarified his position regarding his club future. “I am not staying at Girona because I am a free agent and we have been relegated,” he said. He described his departure as being with “mixed feelings” but affirmed his desire to continue playing football. Witsel joined Girona after spending three years at Atlético Madrid, having begun his professional career at Standard Liège in 2006.

The midfielder explicitly dismissed speculation about returning to Standard Liège, stating it was “out of the question.” He cited the difficulty of returning to a club where one has previously been successful, drawing comparisons to Romelu Lukaku’s potential move to Anderlecht and noting that Toby Alderweireld’s situation differed as he had never played for Antwerp previously.

Witsel, who made his Belgium debut in 2008 and has earned 138 caps with 12 goals, confirmed he remains available for the “Red Devils” as long as he has not retired from the sport. His return to the national setup in 2024 followed a retirement announcement in May 2023. The team is scheduled to face Egypt on Monday in Seattle.

Defender Zeno Debast is unlikely to be available for the tournament due to a leg injury sustained while training with Sporting Lisbon. The 22-year-old, who has 26 international appearances and was part of Belgium’s 2022 World Cup roster, missed Wednesday’s practice and was the only notable absence from Thursday’s closed session.