Once a vocal critic, Rafael van der Vaart now champions Joey Veerman’s elite development as the midfielder’s high-stakes move to Dortmund transforms his impact for the Oranje.
Joey Veerman’s move from PSV to Borussia Dortmund is beginning to look increasingly significant for both his club and international career, with Rafael van der Vaart now admitting that the midfielder has taken another step forward.
PSV received more than €20 million for the Volendam native last summer, with Veerman leaving Eindhoven after several seasons at the club. His performances for Dortmund and the Netherlands have since changed the conversation around the midfielder.
Van der Vaart, who had been critical of Veerman for years, was full of praise after the Netherlands’ 2-1 Nations League victory over Serbia.
“Veerman is by far the best choice,” Van der Vaart said during NOS analysis, as quoted by PSV Inside.
The former Netherlands international acknowledged that Veerman’s tempo can still be improved, but believes his performances at Dortmund show why the move was important.
“Now he also proves at Dortmund that he really needed that extra step in order to take the next one.”
Van der Vaart also pointed to the quality surrounding Veerman at Dortmund as an important factor in his development.
“With the Bundesliga and with Dortmund, you also have better players around you. That was something you could see today. He’s really an Xavi player and I think he’ll be in the starting lineup more often.”
That assessment fits the style Xavi Hernández is trying to establish with the Netherlands. Veerman’s ability to play forward quickly and find teammates in the spaces between the lines has become increasingly important to the national team.
Theo Janssen also highlighted that quality.
“He has a great ball between the lines, not so hard. Then you still have a bit of space so you can turn open and accelerate again.”
For Veerman, the move represents a new chapter after PSV received more than €20 million for his services. His return to the Oranje setup under Xavi has added another dimension to his development.
Van der Vaart’s changing assessment is perhaps the clearest indication of how Veerman’s performances have altered the perception around him. Once a regular target of the analyst’s criticism, the former PSV midfielder now has one of his most prominent former doubters firmly in his corner.
