If you look down the squad list of AC Milan’s U17 team you will see a familiar surname, because Denzel Viana Seedorf is continuing his path towards emulating his father.
As PianetaMilan write, Denzel Seedorf is the eldest son of the better-known Clarence. The latter played for Milan from 2002 to 2012, during which he scored 62 goals in 432 appearances and contributed to winning a Coppa Italia, two Scudetti, two Supercoppas, two Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and one Club World Cup.
Denzel was born in Milan on 25 May 2007, exactly two days after Milan won the last Champions League, a game in which his father started. After a period at Masseroni Marchese – a small club in Milan – he joined the youth sector.
He started in the role of midfielder like his father, starting from the Under 13s, then moving on to the Under 15s and finally establishing himself in the Under 16s, with whom he scored on his debut in a 7-0 win against Cremonese.
Today, he plays in the Under 17s where he is a key player in a side that continue to break records. Not much is known about him, but there are two curiosities.
First of all, his parents decided to name him that in honour of the actor Denzel Washington. Furthermore, in Milan’s U16s , he shared the field several times with two notable talents: Francesco Camarda and Mattia Liberali.
Denzel Seedorf spoke about himself a few months ago in an interview with Globo Esporte, pledging his allegiance to Brazil.
“National team? My choice will be Brazil, I have more Brazilian genes in me. I speak the language, I don’t speak Dutch. I love Brazilians and their culture, which I live at home [he lives in Milan with mother Luviana, who isBrazilian].
“In a tournament I ended up playing every position, except goalkeeper. I was the MVP, but we lost the final. I was young and I was upset, with emotions running high. I told my mother that I needed a better team, not I wanted to lose like that more.
“I showed I had potential. When you’re young they look for that. There’s no player who’s ready at 12 years old . They want to see who can grow.
“Dad never wanted to force me to do anything, it was my decision to play football. To tell the truth, he would have liked me to play tennis. We talk little about football, there is distance because he travels a lot.
“We talk more about other things related to being father and son. He definitely supports me and is very happy for me. This last name is good and bad, it depends on your character. Any pressure I have regarding my last name I solve on my own.
“To become a player you have to have a certain mentality, I always want more. I don’t think I would be at Milan if they didn’t see something in me. I want to make my dreams come true and I will go all the way to do it.”
