Juventus are able to signal Teun Koopmeiners, and Wayne Girard assures the Previous Woman’s followers that this impression signing is definitely worth the wait as a consequence of his duality.
The Netherlands simply lacked that additional oomph to get into additional time in opposition to England within the Euro 2024 semi-final. Ollie Watkins made positive of it on the demise, and Dutch supervisor Ronald Koeman was left ruing the absence of not simply Marten de Roon, however the beating coronary heart of the Oranje midfield, Teun Koopmeiners. During the last 5 years, he’s been undoubtedly the nation’s most respected participant, whether or not the awards have adopted him or not.
The media’s highlight hasn’t fallen upon Koopmeiners the identical method it has for different attacking midfielders like Martin Ødegaard, Bruno Fernandes, and even his youthful countryman Xavi Simons. Maybe that’s as a consequence of his taking part in fashion or the membership that he performs for, however most main groups have seemingly regarded the opposite method as effectively. Whereas Liverpool had been stated to have an interest over the course of the 12 months, the one concrete suitor has been Juventus, who’re stated to have been desirous about him since 2023 and contacted the participant as early as March 2024. Maybe the long run curiosity from the Turin giants staved off the competitors.
Koopmeiners is constant in assault and defence
However for these of us who know and comply with Italian soccer as a religion, perceive that he’s the very best centre-midfielder on the peninsula. As Atalanta have change into a significant power, and reigning Europa League champions, it has coincided with the Dutchman’s presence on the membership since 2021. Over these final three years he’s confirmed himself as a extremely proficient and highly effective inventive outlet with 29 targets and 15 help over 129 matches. 12 of these targets got here this previous season as he nearly doubled his anticipated targets quantity, with a excessive shot accuracy of 37% and targets coming from all central areas from 30 to the six-yard field.
Koopmeiners is a superb addition to Thiago Motta’s Juventus. Rating within the 82 percentile for touches made by an attacking midfielder, that statistic exhibits his willingness to be on the centre of the play, whereas a protracted ball accuracy of over 50% factors out his high quality in spreading the ball all through the pitch – a very lethal asset for Motta-ball, which calls for large switches of play within the attacking third.
However what makes him such a big, sport altering signing is his duality. We will go on and on in regards to the brains behind the assists and highly effective left footed photographs, but it’s within the defensive part the place Koopmeiners rises above the remainder. His defensive actions put him within the prime 90% for centre-attacking midfielders in comparable leagues, and averages nearly 4 and a half ball recoveries per match. In all, the Dutch dynamo made 150 recoveries and gained the ball again 23 instances within the opposing half. The season earlier than, he averaged 7.8 recoveries each 90 minutes for Gasperini, of which just about 50% had been within the attacking half.
The switch negotiations have been longer than Cristiano Giuntoli would have wished, because the league kicks off in lower than every week’s time. However nothing nice ever comes simply or rapidly, and when Koopmeiners is donning these black and white stripes, followers of the Previous Woman could have been given a significant impression signing who will kick Motta’s module right into a a lot larger gear.
