Micky van de Ven is the biggest surprise in the list of 39 football players that national coach Louis van Gaal has submitted to FIFA for the World Cup in Qatar. The defender made the controversial move to Wolfsburg more than a year ago.
The football player from Wormer then filed an arbitration case against FC Volendam to have his permanent contract dissolved and to be able to make a transfer. With a transfer fee of around 3.5 million euros, Van de Ven became the most expensive player in history to leave the first division. He was able to go to Feyenoord and PSV in the Netherlands, but chose Wolfsburg, where Mark van Bommel was the trainer at the time.
In his first year in Germany, Van de Ven did not get much time to play, partly due to injuries. This season he has become a basic player and did not miss a minute with the current number thirteen of the Bundesliga.
Van de Ven was not previously included in a pre-selection of the Dutch national team. Van Gaal says in a response that it is ‘not his style’ to select so many players, but that there is no other option in this case. “Players who we choose for the final selection next month must already be on the provisional list. Because no one can see into the future, you have to be prepared for possible setbacks, such as injuries.”
Eight Ajax players
Ajax players Steven Berghuis, Steven Bergwijn, Daley Blind, Davy Klaassen, Remko Pasveer, Devyne Rensch, Kenneth Taylor and Jurriën Timber are also on the preliminary list, as is AZ midfielder Jordy Clasie. The injured Bruno Martins Indi is missing, while Volendammer Joey Veerman, PSV midfielder, can also finish the World Cup.
The final selection must be known to the World Football Association on November 14. Three days earlier, Van Gaal gives a press conference in which he explains his final choice. A maximum of 26 players will go to Qatar, including at least three goalkeepers.
The full pre-selection:
Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Mitchel Bakker (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Daley Blind (Ajax), Sven Botman (Newcastle United), Brian Brobbey (Ajax ), Jasper Cillessen (NEC), Jordy Clasie (AZ), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter), Mark Flek (SC Freiburg), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Cody Gakpo (PSV), Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld (Villarreal), Vincent Janssen (Royal Antwerp FC), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Luuk de Jong (PSV), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta ), Noa Lang (Club Brugge), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Andries Noppert (Sc Heerenveen), Remko Pasveer (Ajax), Devyne Rensch (Ajax), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Xavi Simons (PSV), Pascal Struijk (Leeds United), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax), Guus Til (PSV), Jurriën Timber (Ajax), Micky van de Ven (VfL Wolfsburg), Stefan de Vrij (Inter) and Wout Weghorst (Beşiktaş JK).