Tommie van der Leegte has revealed how he unexpectedly met new PSV signing Lutsharel Geertruida in Eindhoven, while admitting he has been left baffled by some of the “bizarre” reactions to the defender’s move from Feyenoord.

Lutsharel Geertruida officially became a PSV player last Friday after completing his medical examination at TopSupport in Eindhoven the previous day. The defender subsequently made his debut for Peter Bosz's side during Sunday's emphatic 5-1 victory over FC Groningen.

Former PSV player and regular guest on the De Rood Wit Podcast Tommie van der Leegte had already crossed paths with Geertruida before his official debut.

Van der Leegte explained that their meeting last Thursday was entirely accidental.

“But you came across Geertruida?” host Jessy Hobbelen asked.

“Yes, that was really a matter of great coincidence,” Van der Leegte replied, as quoted by PSV Inside.

The former midfielder explained that he had spent the day at the Tongelreep swimming complex with his youngest child.

“I was going swimming with the youngest, who really insisted on going to the Tongelreep. Well, that has been completely renovated, and I hadn’t been there in a long time. All day long I think I’ve gotten off the slide sixty times. Super fun,” he said.

After leaving the swimming complex, Van der Leegte spotted PSV staff member Mart van den Heuvel alongside several camera crews.

“Then I walked outside and saw Mart (van den Heuvel) in the distance and I saw all those camera crews and I saw Mart standing there. And then I thought: ‘Hey, that's about Geertruida.’ So I walked over to Mart for a bit, to chat, and then he (Geertruida) came along.”

Van der Leegte then decided to take a quick photograph with the new PSV player.

“I thought: ‘Hey, I'll take a quick photo and I'll do it for you.’ So I sent it in the group chat. Well, fine, you of course shared it,” Van der Leegte recalled.

“Of course. Make use of it,” Hobbelen replied.

The encounter also resulted in Van der Leegte receiving plenty of questions about Geertruida.

“He does that right away, hey?” supporter Pascal van der Voort joked.

“Everyone starts talking to me about Geertruida,” Van der Leegte responded.

The move has generated considerable discussion among Feyenoord supporters, particularly on social media, where Geertruida has faced a wave of criticism after choosing PSV.

Van der Leegte admitted he has struggled to understand some of the reactions directed at the defender.

“What people sometimes post is truly bizarre,” he said.

Geertruida nevertheless made a positive first appearance for PSV, coming on during the 5-1 win over Groningen as Bosz began integrating his new defensive option into the squad.

The podcast discussion also touched on Ryan Flamingo, who has faced criticism during the opening weeks of the season.

Flamingo enjoyed an impressive first campaign at PSV, including a strong Champions League performance against Sporting Lisbon, when he helped keep Viktor Gyökeres quiet.

His second season proved more difficult, however, with Jerdy Schouten eventually taking his place in central defence. Flamingo returned to the position following Schouten's injury and remained involved this season.

Former Ajax defender Winston Bogarde, who works with Flamingo, remains confident in the PSV defender.

“His second season was less good, but that can happen. Then other things come into play again: how does he deal with it? On that score too, I have to guide him,” Bogarde told ESPN, as quoted by PSV Inside.

He added: “He has to go back to fighting, because he knows he is a very talented and good defender. But those mental aspects are also needed in order to rise to the surface again later on. Well, he already showed that last season. In this new season, he will show it again. I am absolutely convinced of that.”