In the test against Hamburger SV (4:1), Micky van de Ven made his debut for VfL Wolfsburg. And afterwards he spoke about his transfer and his goals.
He is now starting German lessons, says Micky van de Ven. In English. Although the Dutchman had German at school, he adds with a laugh: “I wasn’t that good at school …” Things were much better on the football pitch. At FC Volendam he went through all the youth teams, became a professional with the second division club, and played his way into the notebooks of bigger clubs. One of them was VfL Wolfsburg. “VfL was very early on,” van de Ven reports of many talks with sporting director Marcel Schäfer and also with coach and compatriot Mark van Bommel. “After Wolfsburg, other interested clubs also came, but I had the best feeling with VfL.” Where the €2.5 million man signed a contract until 2025.
On Wednesday, the 20-year-old celebrated his debut in the green and white kit, playing convincingly on the left in central defence against Hamburger SV (4:1). “It was nice,” says the defender, who knows he has to be patient. Maxence Lacroix, John Anthony Brooks and Sebastiaan Bornauw are the names of his competitors in the centre of defence. It’s a balancing act that the Dutchman now has to manage. On the one hand, he has to wait for opportunities to present themselves, but on the other hand, “I’m young and want to play”. His goal in his first year at VfL: “To have lots of minutes, to develop myself. “
“He is so strong “
VAN DE VEN OVER DE LIGT
At best, as Lacroix has done over the past 15 months or so at VfL. The Frenchman is a good role model for van de Ven. “He also came from the 2nd division,” knows this year’s newcomer, “he did well, the club had confidence in him. That’s why I also chose Wolfsburg.” Word has spread internationally about VfL as a springboard for talent. A club that offers talented footballers real prospects in a good environment.
Now it is up to van de Ven to develop in a similar way to Lacroix. Wolfsburg’s new number 5 is emulating another role model: Matthijs de Ligt, Dutch international in the service of Juventus Turin. “He is so strong,” van de Ven enthuses, “also mentally.” And just two years older than the VfL defender, who, given Lacroix’s yellow-red suspension, could make his Bundesliga squad debut next matchday at Union Berlin. Van de Ven emphasises: “I’m ready. “
