Rafael van der Vaart has repeated his declare that he believes Ryan Gravenberch has the flexibility to be higher than Jude Bellingham.
Former Netherlands worldwide Van der Vaart first made the suggestion final 12 months when the pair had been plying their trades within the Bundesliga – Gravenberch at Bayern Munich and Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund – and obtained loads of stick because of this.
Bellingham moved to Actual Madrid final summer season and loved a beautiful first season on the Bernabeu, serving to the membership to a La Liga and Champions League double.
Gravenberch joined Liverpool three months later however struggled to make an analogous impression as Jurgen Klopp’s facet completed third within the Premier League.
The 22-year-old has been remodeled, nonetheless, beneath new Anfield boss Arne Slot. Gravenberch has produced a sequence of massively spectacular performances for Liverpool, whereas he additionally starred for the Dutch of their 2-2 draw with Germany on Tuesday evening, with one 60-yard, defence-splitting move for Xavi Simons demonstrating his immense expertise.
Adore it, @RGravenberch 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/XS6lBnH2r4
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 12, 2024
Van der Vaart, talking solely to BetMGM, stated: “I took numerous stick after I stated Ryan Gravenberch has the potential to be higher than Jude Bellingham a 12 months or so in the past, however I stand by it.
“I’ve all the time stated the sky’s the restrict for him if he can use his full potential and talent, so I’m not shocked by how good he’s been this season each for Liverpool and the Netherlands.
“Arne Slot has discovered a spot for him within the workforce at Liverpool and he’s thriving – you simply have to take a look at the move he performed in opposition to Germany on Tuesday to indicate this can be a participant who has every part required to go proper to the highest.
“He’s sturdy, fast and clever – Liverpool followers must be very enthusiastic about what’s to come back.”
Van der Vaart additionally heaped reward on Slot, who has led Liverpool to 3 wins from his first three video games in cost.
The previous Actual Madrid man added: “Lots of people didn’t know an excessive amount of about Slot earlier than he got here to Liverpool however I’m his greatest fan and have been for a very long time.
“Among the soccer his Feyenoord workforce performed was unbelievable, significantly as he did with solely okay gamers.
”It’s such a sensible choice from Liverpool as a result of, for a membership as massive as them, it’s really easy to go and discover a massive, family identify that everybody is aware of however they’ve gone for somebody that only a few in England had heard of.
“I’ve met him a number of instances and the factor that actually struck me was that when he talks you consider what he says. It’s all the time good when a coach is sincere and every part they are saying is real – I feel a number of Liverpool followers have already observed that with Slot. I’m actually shocked no different massive golf equipment got here in for him.
“Jurgen Klopp did so properly for such a very long time with lots of the gamers Slot has inherited and the very fact he’s getting the standard performances out of them so early on exhibits what a very good coach he’s.
“Take a look at Mohamed Salah – he’s glad, he’s smiling and he actually appears to be like like he’s having fun with his soccer once more. That wasn’t all the time the case final season however Slot has are available and virtually made him appear to be a brand new signing.”
