Newcastle United defender Sven Botman is destined for a club that “wins titles every year” and a regular place in the Netherlands starting XI.
That’s according to Luis Campos, the man who signed for Lille, and former Dutch international Winston Bogarde, who have praised the Magpies star.
Botman joined Newcastle in a €37m deal from Lille in June after months of speculation about a switch to St James Park and efforts from the Magpies in the January transfer window.
He has been starring for Eddie Howe’s side ever since, establishing himself as a key player in the heart of the defence alongside Dan Burn and Fabian Schär.
He’s been earning rave reviews for his displays, particularly with Newcastle enjoying the best defensive record in the Premier League and one of the best in Europe.
At 23-years-old he seeming has a bright future ahead of him and Campos, who signed him for former club Lille, believes that will see him competing for titles year in, year out.
“Sven is a very modern player. He is constructively strong and defensively I jokingly call him a sheriff,” he told De Telegraaf.
“He rules in duels. On the ground or in the air, the number of balls he recovers for the team is impressive. He’s the boss on defense. Hence sheriff. With ball or without ball, it is very complete and reliable. He rarely makes a mistake.
“The build-up of his career is very natural. Naturally, he also ends up at a club that wins titles every year and plays in the Champions League.
“His destiny is predetermined, because it is very difficult to find someone who is so strong and effective on the field and so stable in his private life. He has an incredible personality. His parents can be proud.”
The next stage in Botman’s development will be establishing himself on the international stage, with him yet to make his debut for the Netherlands.
He has been a regular in their various youth setups, playing for the U15s, U16s, U18s, U20s and U21s but is yet to feature for the senior side, only appearing on the bench vs Bosnia and Poland in 2020.
He seemingly missed out on a place under Louis van Gaal after refusing to play for the youth set up last year, preferring to keep playing and training at Newcastle because he felt he was beyond youth football.
It is now up to new Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman to decide if he is a part of his squad moving forwards, but Bogarde believes that is inevitable.
“Sven is holding his own in the strongest competition in the world, the Premier League, has become champion of France and has held his own in the Champions League,” he added.
“Now he is in the top five with Newcastle United. He is a mainstay and concedes few goals. Then you deserve a serious chance with the Dutch national team. And he will get it too. I’m convinced of that.
“When I look at him like that, I see the focus, drive and winning mentality to survive and win.”
