Van der Wiel: gotta pinch myself regularly

Five years ago, Gregory van der Wiel played street football in Amsterdam wearing a jersey with the name of one Robin van Persie on his back. The defender still can’t believe he’s currently in the same team as the Arsenal star. “I start to feel at home now, though,” he says after the Japan game, in which he started again.
His Amsterdam buddies balked at the jersey. Most wore jerseys with names of famous Ajax players. Van der Wiel didn’t travel to Rotterdam to buy the jersey though, he bought it on the internet. But then again, Van der Wiel is not your mainstream bloke. He studied Greek and Latin and strives to play classical piano. The defender was also kicked out of Ajax’ youth system because he was “difficult to work with”.

“It’s true, I did it all on my skill and never worked for it,” confirms Van der Wiel. “Most kids who play at Ajax are lured to the dark side, so to speak. They get the wrong mates or they spend too much money in clubs and bars… When I moved back to Haarlem, I decided to fight for my chances. I rubbed the bullshit off, not unlike Drenthe now in Madrid, and went for it. I’ve always been above average as a player and at Haarlem I built character.”

PSV and Feyenoord wanted to sign him, but Van der Wiel wanted to return to ajax. Van der Wiel caught Van Basten’s attention and return to the ArenA. He almost immediately copped a tough knee injury and Ajax signed Bruno Silva for his spot. Last season, Van Basten immediately used Van der Wiel when he was fit again and Bert van Marwijk is highly positive about the youngster, whom he allowed to play against Japan in favour of the more experienced Heitinga. “Van Marwijk said I did well. But I’m not sure if that means I’ll play against Scotland though,” Van der Wiel realizes, altough he has seemed to bypassed Dirk Marcellis in the hierarchy.

Van der Wiel is a remarkable lad at Oranje. He is laden with tattoos and wears his jeans low and is never with a baseball cap. He seems to be straight out of a rap video clip. But once you talk to him, you see his real personality. A softspoken, sensitive guy who still addresses people of 30 years or older with the formal “u”.

Van der Wiel’s first tattoo was done four years back in the Amsterdam Red Light District. Lyrics of famous rap songs adorn his right arm. But also his arch-angel Gabriel- a nod to his mum Gabriella – and the initials of his three younger sisters. “My right arm is full now,” he smiles, “so it’s over to the left now.”

“I don’t have any football related tatts,” he says. “I do have two wings on my shoulders and a little crown. When we win something big with Oranje or Ajax, I might decide to do something on my left arm with that. But then again, being part of Oranje is already a big thing. Only five years back I sat in front of the telly with my Van Persie jersey cheering them on…”