Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert has laughed off suggestions he should swap his international allegiance from the Netherlands to Curacao, despite manager Dick Advocaat’s efforts to convince him to do so.
The forward has been speaking to Algemeen Dagblad about his career to date and his feelings about international football.
He has already made his debut for the Netherlands, featuring twice under Ronald Koeman in March 2018 when he was just 18 years old.
He was only handed 17 minutes in total over two international friendlies with Portugal and Peru and hasn’t been in the team since, although he was in the squad for European qualifiers against Germany and Estonia in September.
That had led to questions about whether he will ever feature for the nation again, a question being asked by new Curacao manager Dick Advocaat in particular.
He’s targeting several Dutch players, who also qualify for Curacao, to help bolster his squad as they plan to try and make it to the World Cup in the future.
The Bournemouth man is one of those he has openly discussed targeting, although he’s faced frustration in his efforts so far.
Now Kluivert has had his say, and the Bournemouth forward insists he’s not thinking about a change of allegiance.
“I’m at a good age to take up that route again (with the Netherlands),” he said.
“When I look at the Dutch national team now, I see very good players, guys I played with and against, but I don’t see why I should be scared of them.”
“I suffered a few injuries, just when I was finding my top form and efficiency and the eyes in the Netherlands were on me again. But that’s why I know I can do it and that opportunity with the Dutch team will come again.
“I heard that Dick Advocaat recently said that I am already 24 and can choose Curaçao. I thought: what are you saying? I’m only 24, I can still improve, and I want to play for the Dutch team again.
“I have swam against the current a lot, but I now feel that the wind is finally behind me. I think it would be great to join and compete with the top in the Netherlands. Challenges that I love and am now working hard for.”
