Netherlands icon Ruud Gullit has backed the decision to take West Ham United star Crysencio Summerville to the World Cup, despite varied opinions on him in his home country.
Voetbal Primeur report comments from the Dutch icon today. He’s clearly a big fan of the West Ham star.
West Ham’s best player
Crysencio Summerville has undoubtedly been West Ham’s best player this season, despite their relegation to the Championship.
The 24-year-old was the driving point of the Hammers’ efforts to stay up this season, bouncing back from a difficult first season at the London Stadium last year. A big summer move could be on the cards as a result.
His former has earned him a call up in to the Netherlands squad for the World Cup, ahead of Liverpool’s Jeremie Frimpong. That’s despite not appearing for the senior national team to date.
He’s long been linked with a potential call up after playing at U16, U17, U18, U19, and U21 level for his nation. He has also resisted efforts from Suriname for him to change allegiance.
Ruud Gullit backing
Gullit has backed the decision, despite Summerville’s reputation continuing to lead to raised eyebrows in his homeland.
“I’ve known him for a while,” he said on RTL Tonight.
“He’s an enfant terrible; he has an opinion, too. He was always considered a bit difficult, but it is precisely the difficult players who are the most fun.
“They think outside the box, they think differently. He took a detour in England, played for Leeds United, and then went to West Ham United. I think it is a well-deserved reward. But it is certainly bitter for other players who had thought they would be included.”
Fellow panellist Glenn Helder is equally positive about the West Ham United star’s inclusion. He thinks including Crysencio Summerville is a sign of out of the box thinking from Koeman and his team.
“I quite like it,” he said during Studio Oranje.
“He was always a nice player, but not really fully functional. He has really become a good footballer in England. These kinds of players possess creativity. I can only applaud it. This is simply really thinking outside the box.”