Aston Villa youngster Lamare Bogarde has hit back at critics of young Dutch players who move abroad early, insisting it takes guts to make such a choice.
The defender has been speaking to Viaplay, relayed by Voetbal Primeur, about the choice to move to England earlier in his career.
Bogarde is currently enjoying his breakthrough at Aston Villa, with Unai Emery having shown faith in the 20-year-old following an injury to Matty Cash.
He’s more than rewarded that faith, putting in a series of impressive performances as Aston Villa have enjoyed a strong start to the season in all competitions.
His emergence has not gone unnoticed back in the Netherlands, where he is being held up as something of an example of how young players can succeed after leaving the country at a young age.
There is a long line of Dutch youngsters who’ve left for other countries early on and struggled, with it certainly a strong belief in the country that youngsters shouldn’t depart before first establishing themselves at home.
The Aston Villa youngster doesn’t believe that is the case, though, and that both he and the likes of teammate Ian Maatsen are proof of that fact.
“Everyone makes their own choices,” he said.
“You see that for some boys it does not go as they had hoped. But for many boys it does. For example, for me, Ian (Maatsen) and a few other names.
“I think it is easy to say that people have failed. But of course, it is a big step, and you really need guts to make such a move at a young age. It is not easy. You have no family there and at sixteen you are still a little boy.
“I think it’s just important not to listen to the outside world. It’s very easy to talk, but you’re the one who can prove the opposite. I think we’re showing that such a step can also work.”
