Dutch star will eventually move to Man Utd FC says Advocaat

Former Netherlands and PSV manager Dick Advocaat believes that Dutch international Kevin Strootman will move to Manchester United. The midfielder had been constantly linked with a move to United in the summer while he was at PSV Eindhoven but the 23-year old moved to Italian side Roma instead.

Strootman has displayed why he was regarded so highly with some fantastic performances at the heart of the Roma midfield alongside Daniele De Rossi and Michael Bradley, helping Rudi Garcia’s side to the top of the table at the moment. The midfielder has made 11 league appearances scoring 2 goals and more impressively due to his presence in the midfield, the Giallorossi have only conceded 3 goals so far.

Advocaat who managed Strootman at PSV, has lavished praise on Strootman and expressed his surprise that the midfielder did not move to one of the ‘top’ sides in Europe in the summer. The 66-year old said that he does not expect Strootman to remain in Roma for too long if he can maintain his current form and added that he could see the 23-year old moving to Manchester United soon.

Advocaat was speaking to Algemeen Dagblad and said, “Strootman is a pure professional. It frankly surprised me that he did not get to the absolute top last summer and was on the side a little.

“I do not think he will stay at Roma that long. If Kevin is at this level, he will be plucked away. And then it will be a team of the calibre of Manchester United.”

Strootman usually plays as a holding midfielder and is a commanding presence in the middle of the park possessing exceptional ball retaining qualities, vision and wide passing range. Strootman’s positional awareness is also excellent, as evidenced by his ability to take up good positions and make space to receive the ball even in a crowded midfield. He plays the vital role as the connecting link from defenders to attacking players which has been vital to Roma’s great form this season.

The midfielder started his career at Sparta Rotterdam in 2008 and quickly rose to prominence as one of the most exciting young players in Europe. After a short stint with Utrecht, he moved to PSV in 2011 and became a fixture in the first-team. Strootman moved to Roma in the summer for £15million after two impressive seasons with PSV.