Gazet van Antwerpen reports on how Dennis Praet stayed in shape following his release from Leicester this summer.
After a five-year stint with the Foxes, Praet was without a club until he signed with Royal Antwerp in early September.
During the interim, he was linked with several European clubs, including a potential return to Italy where he had previously played for Sampdoria and Torino.
Having been sidelined at Leicester, Praet faced a significant gap of nearly five months without competitive play before joining the Belgian team.
Despite this, he used the off-season productively to maintain his fitness. Praet participated in group training sessions at Ludus Magnus in Knokke, a facility named after an ancient Roman gladiator school.
Praet discovered Ludus Magnus through recommendations from other footballers who had used the facility.
The cost for all athletes, including Praet, was €80, according to manager Diego Poppe.
Poppe noted that while many athletes have arrived in poor condition in the past, Praet was notably fit when he started training in June.
Poppe recalled Praet’s commitment: “Dennis came in and said, ‘I’m ready to sign with a club anytime. Help me prepare as well as possible.’”
Poppe also mentioned that the training programs are tailored individually, but the cost remains the same for everyone.
Each athlete receives a detailed plan, including specific metrics such as distance covered per session and high-intensity runs.
For Praet, the training focused on enhancing his VO2-max, which measures the maximum capacity for oxygen absorption.
