Ibby Afellay: ready to make his move to the top!

Ibrahim Afellay is without a doubt The Man at PSV. He’s only 23 years old, just, but has grown out of the Eredivisie. A lucrative deal abroad is lingering. The experts on the still growing gem…
Every week, topscouts of the renowned European clubs claim a seat on the stands to witness the development of PSV’s creative midgifielder who is also remarkably prolific this season with 13 goals and counting.
The talented youngster refuses to speak about his future. “I’m playing now with PSV. We’re in the midst of things. I’m not considering anything, other than staying here for another season.”
Fred Rutten, PSV’s new coach, hopes his star will indeed stay on one more season to help build up the former champs. Afellay’s deal stops in 2011 and potential buyers will now have to fork out between 10 and 15 million euros to sign him.
Four experts on Afellay:
DWIGHT LODEWEGES, INTERIM-COACH AT PSV
“His development is spectacular. It’s as if he turned a switch and goes for it for the full 100%. He matured this season. And I can see that at training sessions. He used to hide a bit, but he doesn’t this season. He talks, he coaches, he corrects and directs. He is becoming a true leader.”
“He is a smart player too. He used to chase the ball and he wanted to do too much. Now, he’s chasing space. Which is quite something at his age. He doesn’t collect so many knocks too and he did cop a lot already. That’s his forte, he listens. He wants to learn. He doesn’t walk around like some others with that attitude of “I’m good, so I know it all”…”
“He is ready for the next step. More resistance on training, more opposition in matches. He will and can only get better. Look at Robin van Persie. Tremendous talent at Feyenoord, but he is still improving himself now. But, he does have to pick the right club and the right coach. Next year, the WC is on and he will need to play himself into the group. He can only do that by playing games.”
BERT VAN MARWIJK, COACH DUTCH TEAM
“I’ve seen him play a lot lately and he has grown. Not just as a player, but as a person. He grew physically too, became stronger. More mature. Creative players like him, with their eyes on the goal, are hard to keep in Holland. And it will help him to move abroad. The right moment is hard to say for me. That’s up to him. Players need to make their own decisions in that way, no one can advice them. Some players are ready when they’re young, others need more time. We all know the examples of players who went too early. He needs to make the right choice and he needs to make his minutes in the next season. And I don’t say this just as a fan, also as the team manager of Oranje. The potential internationals need to make sure they get rhythm and play matches. This applies to all the players of course, not just Ibby.”
TIMMY SIMONS, PSV SKIPPER
“Afellay is a tremendous player. He can do it all, and we know that for some time already. I’m not surprised with his development. He is smart and he’s tough on himself. He plays everything this season and that’s a big difference with last seasons, when he tended to sometimes take a day off.”
“I’m very keen to learn whether he’ll be here next season. I don’t interfere or talk about it with him. That’s totally up to him. I wasn’t ready at that age, so it’s different for everyone. I think PSV will be happy with the euros but at the same time, a lot of quality will walk out the door.”
ROB JANSEN, AFELLAY MANAGER
“His development didn’t surprise me at all. But, I want to put a lid on the euphoria: there’s still a long way to the European top. But that’s ok. He still has time. Most players become consistent at that level around 26 years… He’s got some time to develop even more.”
“Ibby is turning into a man, on the pitch and off. He listens, he analyzes and he is stable. I can’t say what will happen. It depends on many factors. Does the right club want him? Will the conditions be good? Only then, leaving is an option. But that’s all it is.”
“I agree with Van Marwijk that Ibby shouldn’t go to some club where he’ll be number 16 or 18. He needs to play. Only then can he develop. Money is important, I know that, but that will most certainly come. And don’t forget, he’s got a good deal with PSV now. Ibby doesn’t focus on money, but on playing and becoming better and better. If we decide that PSV is still the best environment for that goal, he’ll stay.”
afellay should go to bremen or inter
Posted from
United States
afaleey should join arsenal if want to grow as a player.hope if he joins arsenal he will become a greatplayer
Posted from
India
Fans around the world will also call him Ibra…:-)
Posted from
Indonesia
Robben left, Sneijder and Van Der Vaart mid, Afellay on the right, Van Persie and Huntelaar upfront. Formidable force… unstopable.
Posted from
United States
@ Tiju
If Ibby goes to Arsenal, that’d be so sick! awsome. But then he’d have to compete with other well-established playmakers.. Nasri, Arshavin, Walcott, Fabregas, Song ..
Posted from
United States
Song and Walcott are overrated for me. Walcott has great legs but not great vision nor decisionmaking. I’d say Arshavin is the man with Cesc…
@Jan: I agree that at the moment Walcott’s greatest asset is his speed, but remember that he is still only 20 years old. Vision and decisionmaking are things that you can develop as a player. And if there’s anyone to teach him those skills it’s Wenger. Besides, did you see the gem of a goal he put in against Villarreal? There was definitely some quick decisionmaking involved there!
Posted from
United States
Does anyone remember Rosicky ? After Nedved, my favourite Czech player – Isn’t he still lurking around Arsenal somewhere as well ? Very similar to Arshavin style but perhaps not the goal scorer Arshavin is.
Posted from
Singapore
Off Topic – Does anyone here still need convincing that Portugal is a team full of divers and thugs after seeing Pepe kick a player twice whilst he was on the floor defenceless ? He now claims he didn’t know what he was doing and may quit football ?? Yeah Right! get everyone to feel sorry for him.Reverse Psychology but then….the whole world is gullible, look at the amount of people watching Wrestling ! I bet there will still be fans that will protect him and claim he was provoked etc etc etc.
Posted from
Singapore
if afaleey joins arsenal i am sure with the help of wenger he will become a mercurious player .Wenger is born for that.but its hard to fight with nasri,arshavin,fabergas,diabyvanpersie,adabayoor etc
Posted from
India
No matter how valuable V.Bommel and Kuyt might be right now, it’s quite possible we’ll see him in the starting line-up more often when those two quit or are left out, especially if De Jong develops even further as sweeper on midfield.
But if there’s one player i would tip to make it it’s Jeffrey Bruma. Absolutely magnificent at Chelsea youth. If he continues developing like this and is given a chance, he’ll play Alex out of the Chelseaa line-up within 3 years.
Posted from
Netherlands
think that affelay should stay one more year at psv. he’s not mature enough for the big four (there are too many playmakers at arsenal: cesc,arshavin,the always injured rosicky,robin is good at playmaking as well) , there is no room for him at barca,real will sell every dutch players (except the hunter and probably ruud),italian teams are not good enough at the moment. maybe milan if they get a new coach and really want to build a new team. but the best way for him is to stay at psv.
Posted from
Hungary
Afellay should go to Hamburg. Bundesliga is a logical step up from Eredivisie, HSV is bidding for Champs League ticket next year, and Martin Jol is a Dutch coach with a proven record of prospering young talents. In no way Afellay should go to England or Spain and join the “Big Guns”. He will rot sitting on the bench and his talents will go to waste (ask Babel). Wouldn’t mind him staying put with Rutten at the helmet, although I really think Afellay has outgrown PSV.
Posted from
United States
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World







can’t wait till i see this guy on the right with robben to the left and sneijder in the middle behind huntelaar.