Kluivert: “I am happy that now Milan is back at a high level, I do not see why Ibra should stop if he feels well” | OneFootball

Patrick Kluivert at Camp Nou on June 1, 2022 in Barcelona. (Photo by Cesc Maymo/Getty Images)

Patrick Kluivert spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the new Serie A season that starts tomorrow.

Patrick Kluivert had only one season in Italy. A very short time considering his talent. However, as the greatest dancer of all time, Rudolf Nureyev, said: “Talent is 10%, the rest is work”.

And Kluivert, when he arrived at Milan in 1997, found himself in an expected reality: he thought he would work with Arrigo Sacchi, but ended up working under Fabio Capello, a winning coach, very demanding and perhaps not in tune with his thoughts.

Kluivert left Milan after one season, and moved to Barcelona where he found Louis van Gaal. At national team level, Kluivert is a legend and was the top scorer of the Oranje national team, before getting surpassed, also by Memphis Depay who is wanted by Juventus. “Memphis and Wijnaldum are great players, but they play so many more games than in my time. Logically they can score more goals. But I’m not envious, on the contrary,” he told Alessandra Bocci of La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Are you envious of the transformation of Italian football, which compared to your time, perhaps focuses on a more open style of play? “Well, maybe ‘envious’ is not the right word. However, actually when I played there were Boban, Costacurta, Albertini, Weah and I up front. Great players, outstanding players, but the attitude was different.”

Patrick Kluivert during Paris Saint-Germain-Saint-Etienne at Le Parc des Princes on September 9, 2016. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Would you advise a Dutchman to come to Italy, given the problems you had? “Different eras cannot be compared. It is good to see Wijnaldum and Memphis thinking of coming to Italy. Although I must say that in Barcelona the fans are pressing to keep Memphis, who has shown good things there.”

In your opinion, is Italy a better fit for Wijnaldum or Memphis? “Gini and Memphis are different, they will have, or would have, different coaches: Mourinho applies a system that is not like Juve’s and not even one Wijnaldum was used to. I don’t know how to make predictions. But they are good and I don’t see why they should fail in Italy. In the year of the World Cup you have to try to play as much as possible. I think this is an important motivation for Memphis, who at Barcelona is between so many strikers. But it is certainly not the only thing, and from my point of view it’s beautiful to see that players of such quality are happy to move to Italy.”

Beautiful because? “Because I like Serie A and Milan remain in my heart, everyone knows that. It is a Club I adore and I’m happy that now the team is back at a high level. It has been a long journey, a pain I guess for the fans who are used to something else. There are periods like that.”

11 Aug 1997: Patrick Kluivert at Milanello on August 11, 1997. (Shaun Botterill /Allsport)

At Milan, the lighthouse Ibrahimović remains, soon to turn 41. He arrived at Ajax a few years after you and still doesn’t want to retire. You are only 5 years ago, you have been a director in the Youth Sector of Barcelona and many other things and now you are waiting to coach a team. It is strange that Zlatan is still playing in the meantime? “No two stories are the same: if Zlatan feels like it, I don’t see why he shouldn’t continue. He is a winner, a leader, he talks to the young guys, he is a character and in the history of football he has already proven a lot. It’s good for a striker to play at Ajax, but there are many stories to valuate and Ibra has been successful everywhere. Like me, he played for Ajax, Milan and Barcelona. We have something in common, you know? But he has had a longer career. He is an exemplary professional and above all he understands football. I don’t see why he should stop if he feels well. Age is just a number on the documents.”

Speaking of documents: your son is very strong but he has to find a place away from Roma… “I hope the Club will take care of it, because Justin has his own history to write and he deserves a Club that will play him consistently. It is crucial for his development.”

Patrick Kluivert during Brazil-Cameroon at Stadium MK on November 20, 2018. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Who are your model coaches? “I like Xavi who is taking Barcelona back to the highest level. I also really admire Tuchel, Klopp and Galtier.”

You seem to perceive that Italian football cannot be your coaching ground… “I am waiting for the right opportunity. I like the beautiful game but one must also be put in a position to win. Beautiful football in itself produces little.”

Your favorites for the Scudetto? “We will have to watch some real matches, not friendlies. Milan, Inter, Juve and Roma seem to me to be on the same level. Atalanta has been at the European level. Now we have to wait to judge the future.”

Serie A players you like? “Leão, Lukaku, Lautaro.”

Patrick Kluivert interviewed at Hotel Za Za to promote the 2015 UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken on April 17, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Mike Stone/Getty Images)

How do you see the Netherlands at the World Cup? “Unknown as always, and then it’s a particular tournament.”

You have worked on Van Gaal’s staff, did this return to the pitch surprise you? “No, because Louis wants to do one last World Cup and then Koeman will be back. He has the energy to lead the Netherlands to a good result. It will all be difficult to predict though, a World Cup in the winter is different, and the good thing is that the players will come prepared and not tired. Of course, it’s strange that Italy is not there yet, but these are moments that pass.”