In comments likely to rouse Everton fans, former Netherlands winger Rene van der Gijp has claimed that his compatriot Donny van de Beek is not good enough to be considered among the elite of world football, claiming that his calibre is ‘more Everton’ than a so-called ‘big six‘ outfit such as Manchester United.
The 23-year-old former Ajax man joined the Red Devils in the summer and was expected to be a real dynamo in the heart of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans. However, he has been restricted to just one Premier League start and managed only a solitary goal this season (Transfermarkt).
As a consolation to the player, he has been more of a regular feature in the Red Devils’ Champions League campaign. However, it is van der Gijp’s likening of Everton to an above-mediocre calibre which will most chime with Toffees fans – for all the wrong reasons.
The former Dutch winger compared the comparatively miniscule impact of Van de Beek with that of January arrival Bruno Fernandes, who has lit up the Premier League since his move from Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon.
“Van de Beek is not a world-class player, more Everton,” Van de Gijp told SBS 6, as reported by the Daily Star.
“He (Fernandes) has scoring ability, depth and he can give balls of which you say ‘I never saw them coming’. And Van de Beek always gives balls that I think ‘I saw that too’ so there is little surprise in it.
“The question is: do you think there is still a lot of flexibility in Van de Beek? Do you think he’ll be even better than that very good year in the Champions League he had?”
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Van der Gijp’s comments indicate that much is to be done to improve the general perception and stature of the club if they are not associated as ‘world-class’.
The work of Marcel Brands and the wider recruitment network is one facet working hard to change that; the signings of Allan from Napoli and James Rodriguez from Real Madrid are two internationally familiar names from major European clubs.
Equally, Carlo Ancelotti is a proven winner and a heavyweight of world football in what is a further coup for the Toffees. Everton fans should ultimately be unbothered by the quips of a lone pundit, but it nonetheless hints at the external perceptions of the club in relation to world football.
