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The Bournemouth full-back has a history for making an instant impact. At his previous club, which he became part of at thirteen and spent ten years at before moving in the summer to the south coast club, his first appearance saw him enter as a replacement against Monaco. The game finished with him delivering a cross with a wicked left-footed cross and then netting in stoppage time. Aged just 18, Truffert slotted the ball beneath the keeper, who now visits Bournemouth with his current club. “I ran off celebrating and celebrated on the turf,” Truffert says, “just as one fantasizes as a child after scoring your first goal.”

A Seamless Start in the English top division

He has performed superbly for Bournemouth from the outset, commencing with a confident display at the Reds' home ground where he faced the Liverpool star. On that occasion, he also performed better than his predecessor and has played every minute in the top flight so far this campaign.

“We are aware we were defeated,” he comments of the Liverpool game, “meaning it wasn't ideal, but I believe we performed admirably. It was exhilarating because it was my first game and it was a fantastic occasion. We have begun well, but now we need to continue and secure victory this week.”

The Secret to Adjusting

Considering Truffert discuss his switch to the south coast, the maiden switch of his playing days, it is no wonder he has integrated so smoothly. Backroom personnel refer to an intelligent individual and he is obviously astute. He understood the advantages of joining early in the summer, to settle during the preparatory period, and has invested the previous 24 months studying the English language, knowing how valuable they would be if he fulfilled his goal of playing in England's top division.

“That’s why I can communicate in English,” states the young defender, a modest line given this initial big interview is fully in English. “I think it is crucial to do something outside of football, to change your mindset and consider other aspects of life.” When suggested to him that this speaks volumes of his character, he avoids taking credit. “Perhaps, but it was my mother and father who told me it was important.”

Early Years

His relatives, including his brother Florian, a midfielder at Rennes, were part of his entourage when he signed. Maybe it was destiny. Not only because Bournemouth had acquired a player they long admired but because Truffert had spent time in the town as a toddler. He was a native of Liège, Belgium, but when he was half a year old, his parents transferred to the South Coast because of his parent's employment as a research facility head. They remained for 24 months in the area.

“My father states that I walked for the first time on the beach in Bournemouth,” Truffert says. “After those two years, we returned to Belgium for a short period and then transferred to France.”

France Career

He made his debut once by the French national team, in recently, and the previous year he was in the France team that won silver at the Olympic Games, the award earning him a national honor. “I have the papers to show I have Chevalier d'honneur,” he says, exhibiting a proud smile. His teammates in Paris included various talents, some of whom he had previously teamed up with at Rennes. His coach also happened to be his idol.

“The Arsenal icon, a top French players,” Truffert explains. “When I was smaller I played as a left and sometimes right winger, so that’s why I looked up to him. When I was about seventeen or eighteen I became a full-back. At the Olympics I played more as a defender, so his deputy advised me frequently, but when it was a group talk he [Henry] taught me a lot. His tactical understanding was remarkable, you could detect his expertise and he wanted to pass it on to us.”

Philosophy and Approach

He was seen as an perfect match for Andoni Iraola's approach, which is underpinned by relentless pressure. “When you display higher energy than your opponent, I think it’s the optimal approach to win,” Truffert says. “You have to do other things, of course, but if you begin with securing more individual battles than your opponent, you have a far greater opportunity to win. We sprint frequently because all members seek to push ahead, but everybody also wants to defend.

“For us it’s not only defenders who defend and forwards who attack. It’s the whole squad. We like to do everything together on the pitch – and this is the optimal method to win.”

Leadership and Experience

He served as skipper at his former club last season and at Bournemouth he leads by example; he practices as he performs and is considered a perfect professional. He is also very knowledgeable for his age with more than 200 first-team outings and has played in the Champions League, UEFA's secondary tournament and Conference League. In 2022-23, his old team completed a league double over a talented Parisian side. The Premier League, he states, was the next logical step.

He sought advice from colleagues and ex-players, including a prominent winger. “I think he’s one of the best 1v1 players I’ve seen. A world-class forward was also tough to play against and you learn a lot against individuals of this caliber because they can alter the outcome,” Truffert explains. “Now at Manchester City, he operates on the left flank, but when he was at Rennes he featured on the opposite flank so I had to confront him frequently in training.

“It was good for me to level up. He advised me the energy is distinctly higher to Ligue 1. In France, it is maybe a bit more tactical – here all fixtures you have to run a lot, without a break.”

Away from Football

The periods of rest Truffert has had since relocating to permanent accommodation last month has allowed him to explore the region with his wife and their canine companion. “We like to {walk around the town|stroll through the area|expl