Although he only signed for AC Milan last summer, Tijjani Reijnders quickly became a mainstay in the team and often looked like a player who had been playing Serie A football for years, rather than months, and his father has commented on his rise ahead of the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 round of 16 fixture.
It is difficult to speak about Reijnders without getting too carried away at times, but for a player who made his Serie A debut last season, played in multiple roles, and always delivered when required, it makes it difficult not to get carried away.
Deployed as a 6, 8 and a 10 under Stefano Pioli, it rarely seemed like the Dutchman had a permanent home, but Paulo Fonseca’s early plans seem to have the midfielder as one of the team’s main pillars, and he is expected to play in a more advanced role for the Portuguese coach.
Ahead of the Netherlands’ Round of 16 tie against Romania on Tuesday, Reijnders’ father, Martin, spoke to the Dutch paper ‘AD’ about his son’s rise, and his ability at a young age – his comments have been relayed by Milan News.
“The boys [Tijjani Reijnders and his brother] had something special. They were able to read the game at a young age. Then they had an immense advantage over their colleagues. Tijjani went straight to the top of the world. I once told him: ‘If I had been the coach I would have thrown you out of football, you do nothing!’
“Above all, he accepted constructive criticism. Even if it drove us crazy at times. I told him that if he signed a contract he could leave school. He had two years to prove himself, otherwise, he would go back to school. My wife didn’t agree. But if you can become a footballer, that piece of paper is worthless. You can become extremely financially independent.”
” I once told him: ‘If I had been the coach I would have thrown you out of football, you do nothing!’” LMAO…don’t worry you can still tell him that hahaha 😂😂😂
Author said always delivered when required lol I can name many times when he didnt like all the time vs top 5 clubs in the league and in the UCL. But yea, keep overeating him
Man the hype around him on this website is ridiculous… A “star”, “meteoric rise”, “always delivered”. None of my friends that watch football regularly and that are watching the Euro now know who he is. But if you say here that he’s not playing at the expected level, you’re a hater haha
I was waiting to watch him at the Euro, expecting that he would deliver but he’s the same player, struggling defensively and shooting in the sky. He did have a great pass in the box against Austria though, that should have led to a goal if Holland strikers were more accurate. Now I’m waiting to see him under Fonseca before calling him a bust.
“But if you say here that he’s not playing at the expected level, you’re a hater haha” Big Facts!
He’s soon to be 26 going on to 27, in his prime years. What you see is what you get but I do expect something more as he’s had one Serie A season under his belt. But it’s hard for me to see a big improvement. Meteoric…lol 😂 ok
I love the guy. I’ll be honest. Maybe it clouds my judgement but no one on our team moves like him and drives the game vertically like him.
He has a lot of room to improve of course and I hope he does. But I feel like in a couple of years his game will have improved leaps and bounds.
He is one the best midfield in eredivisie. With 20m euro , it is cheap . Pioli use him as DMF thats make his statistic dropped compare to RLC . But he still need improve his shooting . I personally say he is still better than all italy midfield that lose last night
We are lucky to have someone like reijnders he is one of the best midfielders in this world
Far from me the enthusiasm around this guy.All these bs articles ment to make him look better are just for kids that don’t know football.For me he is a player of 15 mil,not more not less.Nothing special