The most creative player in Europe ‘is good enough for Juventus’
The former Dutch national team manager Dick Advocaat believes PSV midfielder Joey Veerman can easily play for Juventus after watching him this season.
Veerman, 24, joined the Eindhoven-based club in January 2022 following a string of strong performances for Heerenveen which subsequently caught ex-Tottenham playmaker Rafael van der Vaart’s attention.
Now a pundit on Netherlands television the first ‘Golden Boy’ recipient likened Veerman to Andrea Pirlo who ended his playing career at the Turin powerhouse.
“Delicious balls, all tailor-made. It all looks very easy for him. It took no effort for Pirlo either. Everything is so relaxed, off the cuff. He also likes to play football. I like it when a player does that. Footballers like Veerman are of a dying breed. That’s why I love those kinds of players,” he then said.
It took Veerman a while before settling at PSV with him an ever-present under Peter Bosz’s leadership. Able to play in a double midfield pivot (4-2-3-1) or as one of two 8s (4-3-3) the four-time Oranje international has to date contributed with two Eredivisie goals and seven assists.
In fact, there’s currently no player more creative than him across Europe’s top seven leagues. The native of Purmerend has produced 59 goalscoring opportunities which is 18 more than joint second-best Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo) and Isco (Real Betis) with Franck Honorat (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Leroy Sané (Bayern Munich) and Romain Del Castillo (Brest) round off the chasing pack.
If boiling down to just goals created his seven assists is matched by compatriot Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig) and Pedro Neto (Wolves). His performances haven’t gone unnoticed with Advocaat feeling his time in the Eredivisie isn’t long for this world.
PSV is the first Eredivisie team ever to score at least 3️⃣ times in 1️⃣1️⃣ consecutive Eredivisie matches 🙌 pic.twitter.com/0v7qGMCRBo
— PSV (@PSV) November 12, 2023
“Veerman is a great player,” he told Veronica Inside. “If you see the game as quickly as he does, you can play anywhere. I think he can play for Juventus in midfield. He can easily join Juventus, I’m sure (of that).”
For context, Juve’s most creative player at the moment is Filip Kostic, who has provided 24 chances, eight fewer than Serie A leader Piotr Zielinski (Napoli).
A move abroad is unlikely to be at the forefront of his mind with his present deal at the Philips Stadion expiring in June 2026.
Furthermore, there’s something incredibly special fermenting at PSV, who head into the international pause boasting a perfect score: maximum points from 36 available.
Bosz’s men are not only unbeaten but they are the only side playing across Europe’s top seven leagues yet to drop a single point. Their resounding 4-0 win over PEC Zwolle on matchday 12 meant they’ve scored at least three goals for an 11th straight game.
However, bigger tests are on the horizon with PSV visiting third-place Twente once domestic football resumes, once that is done second-place and defending champions Feyenoord await them in early December.
