Tijjani Reijnders is currently preparing for his first season in the Premier League with Manchester City.
The Dutch star completed his move to Manchester this summer from AC Milan, and having already made his debut for Man City at the FIFA Club World Cup, the midfielder’s full focus is now on the start of the Premier League in two weeks.
Reijnders admits he has already settled at Man City and will be looking to make a big impact at the Etihad Stadium over the next 12 months, and the 27-year-old is expected to do so, as his attributes are exactly what Pep Guardiola was missing throughout the 24/25 campaign.
The Premier League has always been a dream for the Netherlands international, and ahead of making his debut in the division, Reijnders has admitted that he admired two legends of English football growing up.
Tijjani Reijnders pointing during Manchester City v Wydad AC at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Tijjani Reijnders was a fan of Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie had an incredible career in the Premier League with both Arsenal and Man United, with the Dutch star going on to win the division with the Red Devils in 2013.
Having completed his move to Man City, Reijnders has admitted that playing in England’s top flight has always been a dream for him, as he used to watch the likes of Van Persie and Denis Bergkamp on a Sunday morning in his native country of the Netherlands.
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“I always dreamed of this, and I think it was always on a Sunday morning that I saw the highlights on TV,” Reijnders told City Magazine.
“I’d obviously have a lot of interest in the Dutch players who were over here, of course – Robin van Persie and Denis Bergkamp in particular -they were the sort of players you were looking at because they were huge stars in our country, and as a kid, you want to emulate them.
“Now, being here with City and to be soon playing in the Premier League, it genuinely is a dream come true.”
Robin van Persie celebrates a goal for Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers.
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Robin van Persie and Denis Bergkamp have been studied by Tijjani Reijnders
Not only did he watch the two Dutch players growing up, but Reijnders has admitted to studying the games of Van Persie and Bergkamp, which may have contributed to his ability to score from midfield.
Van Persie was lethal in front of goal, with Arsene Wenger describing the former Gunners star as an “exceptional player” after one of the striker’s performances against Borussia Dortmund.
“At the moment, Robin is an exceptional player,” Wenger said via The Standard. “He takes advantage of our offensive style. At the moment, he is the one who scores all the goals, so we hope we can keep him fit and with us for a long time.”
Man City will have to pay AC Milan many bonuses over the next year if Reijnders and the Manchester club have a great season, but the Premier League giants will not mind, so long as the Dutch star can help them reclaim the league title and other trophies.