by kazza » Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:26 am
KUYT PERSUADED BY ROBBEN
The Guardian
Liverpool’s ultimately successful pursuit of Dirk Kuyt was smoothed by unlikely allies.
The Holland international yesterday revealed he had been urged to move to Anfield by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben, pantomime villains on Merseyside given their connections with Manchester United and Chelsea.
Kuyt was paraded as a £9m Liverpool signing yesterday having signed a four-year contract worth £45,000 a week but Rafael Benítez, it emerged, had first inquired about his availability when still coach of Valencia more than two years ago. Yet, although the 26-year-old had always been keen to move to a club of Liverpool's size, he sought advice from his team-mates in the Dutch national team before completing the transfer and Robben even suggested Kuyt could end up winning the Premiership at Chelsea's expense.
I spoke not only to Ruud but also the other players in the Premier League who are in the Dutch team," said Kuyt, who has received his international clearance but is unlikely to start this afternoon's game at Sheffield United. "They said this is a perfect competition and that I would enjoy myself here. They didn't give specific advice but they said I would love it and I'm ready to play in the Premier League. They said Liverpool are a fantastic club with fantastic support and that we are ideally suited for each other.
"Arjen said the crowd is incredible. He played against them in the Community Shield and said he came into the stadium before kick-off and it was all red. He said Liverpool fans don't like him very much and said a few things to him, but he also said Liverpool have a very good team and will challenge Chelsea this year."
That antipathy towards Robben is born of the winger's theatrics at Stamford Bridge last season which prompted José Reina's dismissal for violent conduct. Kuyt is unlikely to resort to similar gamesmanship - "I think he's more English than Dutch in the way he plays," said Benítez - but he is aware that he must prove a more potent threat in the campaign ahead than he did at the summer's World Cup finals.
His three appearances in Germany made a mockery of his lofty reputation. "I can do better," he insisted. "I don't think I showed my best but I only started two matches at the World Cup. Playing in the Premier League and the Champions League will help me become a better player and show what I can do. But it was hard to show what I could do in Germany. Ruud van Nistelrooy was in the squad and Marco van Basten gave him the chance in the first few matches but, once I was in the team, it came down to small things.
"The Premiership is a really difficult competition, but that's why I'm here. I want to perform at the highest level and think the Premier League is the highest level in the world. I am very confident I can make that step and show what kind of player I am, and that I'm good enough for the Premier League."
Benítez is convinced of that much already, with the £9m fee taking his transfer spending at Anfield to almost £76m. Kuyt managed 71 goals in 101 league appearances for Feyenoord but, while that prolific record lends itself to comparisons with Van Nistelrooy (who Kuyt admits to having "idolised") Benítez is eager to stress his new signing has more facets to his game than goalscoring.
"Kuyt works hard for the team and provides assists as well," said the Spaniard, who has spent more than £24m during this summer alone. "I think the description of him as a typical English player suits him. He can fight for the ball. It is clear that he is stepping up another level but we are talking about a player with a very strong mentality and character. We're limited now in terms of finance but we've signed young players with quality. Now the squad has a good balance. We are a stronger team and I am more confident about our chances."
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Nice to know Robben thinks we may win the premieship this year.