Attacking midfielder born in 2003, Italian father and Dutch mother, he played for Italy until the Under 20s before choosing the Netherlands, and is now aiming for a new about-face. Van Persie, his coach: “He is a special player”
Luciano Valente deserves a moment’s attention. He is a midfielder born in 2003, born to an Italian father and a Dutch mother, and last night he spoke with Dutch journalists about a possible call-up of Gattuso. In Italy it seems strange, in Holland much less so, because Valente is playing an excellent season with Feyenoord. His sentences, reported by the Telegraaf: “If the Italian national team called me before the Dutch one, I would take it into consideration. My dream is to become a footballer for the national team. I could do it with the Netherlands, but if the Italy coach called me first, I would definitely take it into consideration”. A clear message to the FIGC.
valid: Italy or Holland
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Valente is known in the federation because he played for blue up to the Under 20s and for the Under 21s he chose the Netherlands. A derby that will end with the choice of Gattuso or Dutch coach Koeman, who apparently has no intention of calling him up even for the November break. In Holland the issue is sensitive, because the national team has already lost Dean Huijsen, who abandoned the orange shirt after the youth team to play for Spain at Under 21 and overall level. Choice similar to that of former Roma player Salah-Eddine, who has just changed national team: from Holland to Morocco.
van persie’s words
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Valente explained the situation last night: “After the European Championship with the Under 21s I no longer had contact with the Dutch federation. I see other Feyenoord players leaving for the national teams and then it seems closer to me, but I don’t think: ‘I have to be called up'”. His main sponsor is his coach, Robin van Persie: “I knew Luciano was good when we bought him from Groningen, but now he is becoming a fantastic player. He has intuition, is technically gifted, makes decisive passes and has a great desire to improve. For me he is already a special player.”
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