Eredivisie star overlooked for the Netherlands squad: 'More entitled to it than Kenneth Taylor'
Mario Been cannot understand why Luciano Valente was left out of the Netherlands squad during the last international break. Speaking on ESPN, the analyst said, among other things, that the Feyenoord player deserved a call-up more than Lazio midfielder Kenneth Taylor.
Valente has made an excellent start to the season. The midfielder, who has also worn the captain's armband since this season, is playing as an advanced left winger and, according to Been, is doing more than enough in that role. The 23-year-old from Groningen has already scored four Eredivisie goals and provided an assist.
"You can see Valente's role, it is a very free role from the left side. Here he even comes into the number 10 position to at least lay a ball off," says Been, while showing footage from the away match against PEC Zwolle (0-7).
Watching a wonderful through ball from Valente from his own half, Been adds: "And this is definitely a quality as well. He has an eye for players making runs in behind, he is a quality player. All of Feyenoord have started playing better since Valente has been playing in that position."
Been continues: "The midfield is better balanced, with Zechiël you obviously have enormous depth and running power. Two holding players in Targhalline and Vanhoutte, and Valente has a free role and he shows that every week."
He then says: "He has already scored four goals, which is already as many as in the 84 matches he played for FC Groningen and last year for Feyenoord," Been says, exaggerating somewhat about Valente, who scored 10 goals in 94 matches for Groningen. "He is feeling good, this is a player of real quality and I think he could have been in the Netherlands squad."
Presenter Jan Joost van Gangelen goes a step further, saying Valente should have been in Xavi's first Netherlands squad. "Taylor was in it," Been replies. "Just to name one. I think he actually had more right to it."
On Valente's new role, Been says: "In any case, he is a player who belongs there, because he has the qualities for it. It is going brilliantly and he gets into situations, at least five times in the box every match. That was always the problem with him."
Been adds: "He had little goalscoring ability, the number of assists could have been better as well. And if you look at it now, he is really very important for Feyenoord at the moment. The whole team are playing better. If you sacrifice yourself for that and as a result play better yourself, I think it cuts both ways."
