Robin van Persie is a big fan of AZ Alkmaar attacker Calvin Stengs.
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The 22-year-old has been criticised for some of his performances so far this season, but Van Persie believes he is a “Special talent.”
Writing in his De Telegraaf column, Van Persie praised the AZ Alkmaar star especially for his performance against Feyenoord two weeks ago, “After quite a while you will have another diamond. Stengs is just 22 years old, he is on the borderline from young to adult. I saw how he released players through against the goalkeeper when you saw his assist with Boadu’s last goal against Feyenoord, how beautifully that cross was cut, the correct ball speed, his assumptions, and how other midfielders could have scored if they are had done better with his passes.”
“Stengs also has a good feeling for the moments when he needs to keep the ball calm and when he needs to speed up the game.
Van Persie doesn’t think Stengs best position is on the wing, “I actually think he’s an old-fashioned number ten. By nature, he is a right-winger, but when I see him play like he was against Feyenoord he is also an old school number ten. In my view, Stengs is quite unique. I have not seen a real number ten in the Netherlands in recent years. I only see runners on ten.”
The record Netherlands goalscorer predicts Stengs will reach the top if he continues to add to his game, “If Stengs starts to analyze his own playing style and adds that piece to what he already owns, so dares to look for the edge more often, he has the potential to reach the absolute top.”
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