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The Bournemouth full-back possesses a track record for making an instant impact. At his previous club, which he joined at 13 and spent ten years at before moving in the summer to Bournemouth, his debut saw him enter as a replacement against Monaco. The match culminated with him providing an assist with a powerful left-footed delivery and then scoring a late winner. Aged just 18, Truffert directed his effort past the keeper, who currently faces Bournemouth with his new team. “I ran off celebrating and dropped to my knees,” Truffert remembers, “just as one fantasizes as a youngster after scoring your first goal.”

A Flawless Opening in the Premier League

Truffert has excelled for Bournemouth from the outset, starting with a confident team performance at the Reds' home ground where he handled the Liverpool star. During that game, he also performed better than his predecessor and has played every minute in the league so far this campaign.

“We know we lost,” he comments of the Liverpool game, “thus it wasn't flawless, but I believe 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 win this week.”

The Key to Adapting

Considering Truffert explain his £11m move, the maiden switch of his professional life, it is no wonder he has adapted so effortlessly. Backroom personnel talk of an smart person and he is obviously astute. He recognized the merits of joining early in the summer, to bed in during pre-season, and has invested the previous 24 months taking English classes, aware how useful they would become if he realized his dream of reaching the Premier League.

“That’s why I can communicate in English,” remarks the full-back, a modest line given this initial big interview is fully in English. “I think it is vital to pursue activities away from the pitch, to change your mindset and consider other aspects of life.” Upon hearing that this is very telling of his character, he seeks no acclaim. “Maybe, but it was my family who instructed me it was important.”

Early Years

His relatives, including his younger brother Florian, a engine room operator at Stade Rennais, were part of his entourage when he put pen to paper. It could have been meant to be. Not just because Bournemouth had secured a long-term objective but because Truffert had resided in the area as a toddler. He was a native of Liège, Belgium, but when he was half a year old, his family moved to Southampton owing to his dad's job as a laboratory director. They remained for 24 months in the area.

“My parent says that I took my first steps on the seaside in town,” Truffert says. “Following that period, we went back to Belgium for a short period and then relocated to France.”

France Career

He made his debut once by the French national team, in recently, and last year he was a member of the French squad that finished second at the Olympic Games, the award earning him a Chevalier d'honneur. “I have the certificate to show I have the knighthood,” he states, exhibiting a proud smile. His fellow players included a number of stars, some of whom he also played with at Stade Rennais. His head coach also happened to be his idol.

“The French legend, a top French players,” Truffert says. “When I was younger I played as a wide attacker, so that’s why I admired him. When I was about 17 or 18 I transitioned to defender. At the Olympics I played mainly at the back, so his deputy was my main point of contact, but when it was a collective meeting he [Henry] imparted much knowledge. His football brain was remarkable, you could sense his know-how and he aimed to impart it to us.”

Style of Play

The club recognized him as an suitable candidate for Andoni Iraola's philosophy, which is founded on high energy. “When you display higher energy than your rival, I think it’s the optimal approach to win,” Truffert states. “You have to do other things, of course, but if you begin with coming out on top in challenges than your opponent, you have a far greater opportunity to win. We sprint frequently because everybody wants to attack, but each also desires to defend.

“For us it’s not solely the defense's job and strikers who score. It’s everybody together. We like to act as a unit on the pitch – and this is the optimal method to win.”

Captaincy and Know-How

He served as skipper at Stade Rennais recently and at Bournemouth he sets the standard; he trains how he plays and is considered a coach's ideal. He is also highly seasoned for his age with more than 200 career appearances and has competed in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. In the 2022-23 season, his previous club won both matches over a high-profile PSG side. The Premier League, he comments, was the next logical step.

He sought advice from friends and former teammates, including a current star. “I think he’s a top 1v1 players I’ve witnessed. A famous attacker was also challenging to mark and you acquire knowledge against these kinds of players because they can alter the outcome,” Truffert says. “Now at the Etihad, he operates on the left flank, but when he was at my old team he was often on the right so I had to face him a lot in training.

“It was beneficial for my development to improve. He told me the intensity is significantly greater to Ligue 1. In France, it is maybe a bit more tactical – here every game you have to cover ground, without a break.”

Personal Time

The free time Truffert has had since moving from a hotel to a home last month has allowed him to explore the locality with his wife and their canine companion. “We like to {walk around the town|stroll through the area|expl