Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has expressed his willingness to form a partnership with Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in the Dutch national team.
The young centre-back, who joined Spurs in August 2023, has quickly established himself as a key player and is eager to continue developing alongside one of the best defenders in the game.
In a recent interview with ESPN, van de Ven spoke highly of van Dijk, calling him a “fantastic defender.”
While van de Ven prefers playing in central defence, he acknowledged that he is open to playing in other positions for the national team if needed.
With key Dutch defenders like Nathan Ake and Jurrien Timber unavailable, van de Ven has been asked to fill various roles, including left-back.
However, he reiterated that his strongest performances, both for Tottenham and previously at Wolfsburg, have come when playing in his preferred central position.
The 23-year-old commented:
“I’ll let the coach decide if he wants to do that.
“We’ll have to see. Virgil is a fantastic defender, so I wouldn’t mind playing alongside him.
“I can play in both positions. You can fill in for yourself.
“I prefer to play the central defender. But that’s logical when you look at the games I played for Tottenham and Wolfsburg.
“Nathan is injured and Jurrien is injured. I can also play the left back, so that’s not a problem.”
Van de Ven’s impact at Tottenham has been immediate. After making his debut in the first match of the 2023-24 Premier League season, he quickly became an integral part of Spurs’ defence.
His combination of speed, positioning, and defensive ability earned him widespread praise, and he capped off his debut season by winning Tottenham’s Player of the Season award.
As his career continues to rise, van de Ven remains open to forming a defensive partnership with van Dijk at the international level.
Such a pairing could significantly strengthen the Dutch backline, and van de Ven’s flexibility and talent make him a valuable asset for both club and country.