Rafael van der Vaart has repeated his declare that he believes Ryan Gravenberch has the power to be higher than Jude Bellingham.
Former Netherlands worldwide Van der Vaart first made the suggestion final 12 months when the pair have been plying their trades within the Bundesliga – Gravenberch at Bayern Munich and Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund – and acquired loads of stick because of this.
Bellingham moved to Actual Madrid final summer season and loved an exquisite 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 reworked, nonetheless, underneath new Anfield boss Arne Slot. Gravenberch has produced a sequence of vastly spectacular performances for Liverpool, whereas he additionally starred for the Dutch of their 2-2 draw with Germany on Tuesday night time, with one 60-yard, defence-splitting move for Xavi Simons demonstrating his immense expertise.
Find it irresistible, @RGravenberch 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/XS6lBnH2r4
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 12, 2024
Van der Vaart, talking solely to BetMGM, stated: “I took various stick once 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 skill, 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 crew at Liverpool and he’s thriving – you simply have to take a look at the move he performed towards Germany on Tuesday to point out this can be a participant who has every part required to go proper to the highest.
“He’s robust, fast and clever – Liverpool followers needs to be very enthusiastic about what’s to come back.”
Van der Vaart additionally heaped reward on Slot, who has led Liverpool to a few 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 largest fan and have been for a very long time.
“A number of the soccer his Feyenoord crew performed was unbelievable, notably as he did with solely okay gamers.
”It’s such a good selection from Liverpool as a result of, for a membership as massive as them, it’s really easy to go and discover a massive, family title that everybody is aware of however they’ve gone for somebody that only a few in England had heard of.
“I’ve met him just a few occasions and the factor that actually struck me was that when he talks you imagine what he says. It’s all the time good when a coach is sincere and every part they are saying is real – I believe plenty of Liverpool followers have already seen that with Slot. I’m actually shocked no different massive golf equipment got here in for him.
“Jurgen Klopp did so effectively 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 superb coach he’s.
“Have a look at Mohamed Salah – he’s glad, he’s smiling and he actually seems 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 nearly made him appear like a brand new signing.”
