Ryan Gravenberch was in the thick of the action for Liverpool as they secured a 2-0 win against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League yesterday.
The midfielder has been one of the surprise packages of the season and can’t seem to do much wrong as he continues to shine for club and country.
After Martin Zubimendi rejected a move to Anfield, Arne Slot opted to use Gravenberch as Liverpool’s number six and it’s safe to say no one expected him to perform like this.
That said, Rafael van der Vaart may have been ahead of the curve and his comments about his compatriot from 2023 make for interesting reading.
Ryan Gravenberch emerging as Liverpool’s main man in midfield
Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid takes Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpoo...
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
In April 2023, Gravenberch was plying his trade for Bayern Munich and was really struggling as he couldn’t replicate his Ajax heroics.
Jude Bellingham, on the other hand, was the most wanted midfielder in world football and was wanted by Liverpool and Real Madrid, among others.
The 2023 summer transfer window saw both players secure transfers as Bellingham joined Real Madrid, while Gravenberch swapped the Allianz Arena for Anfield.
Van der Vaart made a rather outrageous claim involving the two players before their transfers, but looking back, he may have had a point.
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“What I think is the big difference (between the two players); Bellingham is a step lower at a club and always plays,” Van der Vaart told Ziggo Sport at the time.
“I think Gravenberch is better than him, in every way. Especially physically.”
It goes without saying that Bellingham is a fantastic player in his own right, but the Dutchman showed yesterday at Anfield he is more than capable of holding his own against anyone on the planet.
Gravenberch has always been hailed as an outrageous talent and is finally starting to deliver the goods consistently after two lukewarm seasons.
Gravenberch’s stats so far this season
Earlier this month, Michael Owen named Gravenberch as his Premier League Player of the Season so far due to his outstanding performances in the centre of the park for Slot.
Ryan gravenberch 24-25 stats Apps Goals Assists Yellow cards Mins played
Premier League 12 – 1 2 1.080′
UEFA Champions League 5 – – 1 450′
He has started every Premier League and UEFA Champions League game this season under the new Liverpool boss and is set to play a big role in the festive run-in as the Reds aim to cement their position at the top of the league table.
Van der Vaart was slated for his opinion at the time and it’s never nice to compare two players, but his faith in Gravenberch is a sign that there was always a player there who was on the cusp of exploding given the right conditions.
And judging by how things have panned out so far this season, the stars have finally aligned for the Dutchman.
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