Belgian international Thomas Meunier has revealed he received a message from Lille president Olivier Létang indicating the club would be open to extending his contract, according to L’Équipe. The 34-year-old’s current deal with Lille is expiring, and he is currently on international duty with Belgium ahead of their departure for the United States on June 8th.
Meunier stated that Létang expressed a strong desire to retain his services, and that he responded by stating the club needed to demonstrate that commitment concretely. He acknowledged the recent managerial change from Bruno Genesio will not significantly alter his situation, emphasizing his experience and reliability as a player. The right-back also pointed to the situations of fellow expiring contract players Nabil Bentaleb and Aïssa Mandi, suggesting they could all contribute significantly next season.
Despite interest from other clubs, Meunier has not yet made a decision on his future. He confirmed he has already received phone calls from potential suitors, but is taking his time to evaluate his options. He described an offer from a Championship club as “chouette” (nice), indicating an openness to experiencing English football. However, his priority remains playing at a competitive level.
The player, who previously played for Borussia Dortmund from 2020 to 2024 and Trabzonspor before joining Lille in the summer of 2024, is drawing parallels to his experience before joining Paris Saint-Germain after Euro 2016, where increased visibility led to a high-profile transfer. Meunier is keen to remain in contention for the Belgian national team, with 78 caps and 10 goals to his name, and wants to play for a club competing in European competitions to maintain his profile. He even stated he is open to playing in different positions, even midfield, if it meant securing a move to a competitive club.
Meunier believes he has at least six years of high-level football remaining, and intends to make a decision on his future at the last possible moment, as he has throughout his career. He is prioritizing sporting competitiveness and visibility for the national team, unless presented with an “exceptional” offer from a distant country.
