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The Bournemouth full-back is known for starting strongly. During his time at Rennes, which he joined at 13 and spent ten years at before his summer move to the south coast club, his introductory match saw him come on as a substitute against Monaco. The match culminated with him delivering a cross with a wicked left-footed ball and then scoring a late winner. When he was only 18, Truffert slotted the ball beneath the keeper, who now visits Bournemouth with his new team. “I ran off celebrating and dropped to my knees,” Truffert recalls, “like you dream of doing as a youngster after netting your debut goal.”

An Impressive Beginning in the English top division

He has performed superbly for Bournemouth since his first match, beginning with a fearless team performance at Anfield where he contained Mohamed Salah. During that game, he also performed better than the previous left-back and has been ever-present in the Premier League this season.

“We are aware we were defeated,” he states of that match, “meaning it wasn't ideal, but I think we put in a strong performance. It was exhilarating because it was my debut and it was a memorable evening. We have made a good start, but now we must keep going and get a result in the upcoming match.”

The Secret to Adapting

Hearing Truffert explain his £11m move, the initial move of his playing days, it is understandable he has slotted in so seamlessly. Club staff refer to an smart person and he is clearly sharp. He understood the benefits of signing in June, to bed in during pre-season, and has spent the past two years taking English classes, aware how valuable they would be if he achieved his ambition of playing in England's top division.

“That’s why I can communicate in English,” remarks the young defender, a modest line given this initial big interview is fully in English. “I think it is crucial to pursue activities away from the pitch, to alter your thinking and focus on different matters.” When suggested to him that this speaks volumes of his nature, he seeks no acclaim. “Perhaps, but it was my mother and father who instructed me it was important.”

Family Roots

Truffert's family, including his younger brother Florian, a central player at Rennes, were in his company when he put pen to paper. Maybe it was destiny. Not just because Bournemouth had landed a longstanding target but because Truffert had lived in the area as a toddler. He was a native of Liège, Belgium, but when he was six months old, his family transferred to the South Coast because of his parent's employment as a research facility head. They spent two years in the locality.

“My father states that I began walking on the seaside in town,” Truffert reveals. “Following that period, we headed home to Belgium for six months and then moved to France.”

France Career

He made his debut once by Didier Deschamps's side, in 2022, and the previous year he was in the France team that won silver at the Olympics, the award granting him a Chevalier d'honneur. “I have the certificate to show I have Chevalier d'honneur,” he says, beaming with pride. His fellow players included a number of stars, some of whom he was familiar with at his former club. His head coach also was his idol.

“The Arsenal icon, one of the best French players,” Truffert notes. “When I was a youth I played as a wide attacker, so this is the reason I idolized him. When I was about 17 or 18 I switched to left-back. At the Olympics I played mainly at the back, so his deputy mainly spoke to me, but when it was a team discussion he [Henry] imparted much knowledge. His football brain was remarkable, you could detect his expertise and he aimed to impart it to us.”

Philosophy and Approach

Truffert was identified as an perfect match for the coach's approach, which is underpinned by high energy. “When you exert greater pressure than your opponent, I think it’s the best way to win,” Truffert explains. “You have to perform other duties, of course, but if you start by winning more duels than your foe, you have a far greater opportunity to win. We run a lot because all members seek to push ahead, but all are committed to defending.

“For us it’s not just the backline that defends and forwards who attack. It’s the entire team. We like to perform all tasks collectively on the pitch – and this is the optimal method to win.”

Leadership and Experience

He served as skipper at his former club recently and at Bournemouth he leads by example; he prepares with match intensity and is considered a manager’s dream. He is also highly seasoned for his age with in excess of 200 career appearances and has played in the UCL, UEFA's secondary tournament and UECL. In a recent campaign, his old team won both matches over a star-studded Parisian side. The English division, he comments, was the following obvious progression.

Truffert sounded out friends and former teammates, including a top player. “I think he’s among the finest individual talents I’ve seen. A world-class forward was also tough to play against and you learn a lot against such talents because they can alter the outcome,” Truffert notes. “Now at Manchester City, he features on the left side, but when he was at Rennes he played more on the right so I had to confront him frequently in training.

“It was good for me to improve. He informed me the pace is distinctly higher to the French league. In France, it is possibly more technical – here all fixtures you have to run a lot, no rest.”

Life Off the Pitch

The downtime Truffert has had since moving from a hotel to a home last month has allowed him to explore the area with his spouse and their pet. “We like to {walk around the town|stroll through the area|expl