(Montreal) If the name of Quebecer Charles-Andreas Brym does not resonate too much in Canada, it will now resound in the stadiums of one of the most prestigious championships on the planet and, potentially, at the World Cup.
Posted at 9:27
This rise of the Saguenéen materialized in May, when Brym left his Dutch second division team and agreed on the terms of a three-year pact with Sparta Rotterdam, a first division formation from the same country. .
Earlier in the last campaign, Brym also carved out a place with the Canadian squad and was sent into the fray in a couple of 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar.
However, Brym is not fooling himself: changing teams at the dawn of the World Cup, which will start in almost three months, can affect his chances of being selected.
“When I was selected, several other players were not chosen because they were involved in more complicated transfers or they did not get minutes with their club,” he remarked during the interview. an interview with The Canadian Press.
“It’s going to be a question of staying in shape and having playing time. So I have to focus on playing well with my team to keep all the chances on my side. »
From the end of November, the Canadian men’s team will take part in the second World Cup in its history and a first since 1986. There are only two preparatory games for Canada before the World Cup. Duels against Qatar and Uruguay are scheduled for the end of September in order to prepare for the great mass of soccer.
If Brym has been contacted by Canada’s head coach, John Herdman, to discuss a possible selection for the World Cup, he does not want to leave anything to chance.
“We are not going to lie to each other, the objective of Charles and I was that he be taken into account by the Canadian selection for the World Cup, explained Brym’s agent, Zénon Mélon about the transfer of his client . So yes, we said to ourselves, choosing this team: “Do I have more chances of being selected here than in another club?” »
However, this is not the only parameter that has been taken into consideration. In fact, Brym and his agent identified another key factor that weighed in the balance.
“Charles has the qualities to win anywhere, he just has to feel good. That’s his main element,” admitted Mélon, who has been representing Brym since last year.
To make sure that was the case, Charles spoke with virtually every manager and club executive who wanted to get their hands on the versatile striker.
Mélon explained that even if his client received “several offers”, including some from teams qualified for the European Cup – a competition for clubs from the Old Continent – the Dutch championship was leaving with a head start.
And even if it is too early to give a verdict, Brym and Mélon are more than satisfied with the destination.
“We believe that by going to Sparta, he has the best chance of having fun! Football is still fun, ”said Mélon.
Adaptation issue
Although he remains in the Netherlands, the transition between the second and first division is not necessarily easy. Nevertheless, Brym is not intimidated to face prestigious clubs like Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven.
“I’m going to try to play my football and we’ll see if it’s compatible with the first division, but I think it will be the case otherwise I wouldn’t have decided to change teams. We’ll see as the season progresses, but I’m confident I can adapt to this championship,” said Brym.
Now a member of the oldest professional club in the Netherlands, founded in 1888, Brym is no stranger to the notion of having to make his mark quickly in a new environment.
The 24-year-old forward left Quebec at age 15 to pursue his dream of playing in the European soccer leagues. Far from the Quebec spotlight, he evolved in Portugal, France and Belgium before ending up in the Netherlands.
“It’s my personal baggage. Of course, I get something positive out of it (to have left Quebec so early). It made me mature, ”analyzed the player who scored eight goals and an assist in 26 league games last year.
Sparta left Brym on the bench in their first game of the campaign, but the Quebecer took to the field in the second game of the season. On Sunday, against AZ Alkmaar, he got 13 minutes of play.
Lucid, the Quebecer refuses to project himself too much into the future and focuses only on his short-term objectives.
“Above all, I have to stay injury-free and remain available for the national team. And I have to have a good start to the season,” noted the native of Colombes, France.
Knowing the winning recipe and having all the ingredients to succeed, the nomad is slowly but surely making his niche in a new formation. For the umpteenth time.