When you’re finding yourself being likened to two of the finest central midfielders in the modern era – Andrea Pirlo and Toni Kroos – then you know you’re on the right track. That is certainly the case for a one-time Rangers target going from strength to strength with a league winners’ medal and a spot at the upcoming European Championships to look forward to.
Even while sharing a pitch with Ilkay Gundogan, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Kroos himself, Joey Veerman stood out.
He opened the scoring during the Netherlands’ eventual 2-1 friendly defeat to Germany on Tuesday night; a cherry on the cake moment for a player Rangers reportedly tried and failed to sign for a fee in the region of £4 million during the Steven Gerrard era.
A player currently performing like a midfielder worth ten times that fee, if not more.
Rangers reportedly wanted Joey Veerman at Ibrox
“His gaze is always focused forward and the Dutch team needs that,” the iconic Rafael van der Vaart told NOS Studio after the PSV Eindhoven playmaker opened his Oranje account at the eighth time of asking.
“I have always compared Veerman with Andrea Pirlo. These are the matches to prove again that he is the big man with the ball.”
Much has been made of Kroos’ influence on the Germany team since his return to the international fold this month. The Real Madrid veteran was outstanding during last week’s 2-0 victory over France.
Veerman obviously has a long way to go before he can match one of the most decorated footballers of the modern era but former Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk has a point when he says that the duo share a very similar skillset.
‘The Dutch Toni Kroos’
“I think he’s a bit like the Dutch Toni Kroos,” Van Hooijdonk argues. “Both Kroos and Veerman can cover the entire field with their right foot and have an extra eye to give the through ball.
For example, you never see (Barcelona’s Dutch star) Frenkie de Jong play a ‘switch’ pass. (Veerman) has completely different qualities.”
Rangers supporters got the chance to see Veerman up close earlier this season. The former Heerenveen captain was exceptional during PSV’s 5-1 hammering of the Glasgow giants in the Champions League qualifiers, scoring one and setting up two in the second leg.
