Taking you back to last summer, Burnley weren’t the only club who tried to sign Ian Maatsen from Chelsea.
Dutch side Feyenoord, who had the player at the youth ranks over a decade ago, had just lost Tyrell Malacia to Manchester United, and tried to bring him in as a solution to compensate for that exit.
It turns out Burnley ended up winning the race, signing Maatsen from the Blues on a loan deal until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old has now spoken to the Dutch media, interviewed by Algemeen Dagblad, and explained the whole situation which took him to the Clarets last summer.
Maatsen confirmed that Feyenoord fought Burnley for his signing, but now claims that Vincent Kompany was crucial to convince him of moving to the Turf Moor.
“(Arne Slot) also wanted me after Tyrell Malacia left. That was a great conversation, but with Vincent I really got a good feeling because he called me every day. Feyenoord was certainly an option, but when I had made my choice I called Arne Slot and explained that I would like to succeed in England,” Ian Maatsen told Algemeen Dagblad (via FC Update).
Despite being a fullback, Maatsen already has four goals and five assists in the Championship this season, and talked about those impressive stats for his position.
“If you look at the list it’s almost always attackers, so it’s nice that I’ve been noticed as a left back. I think it says a lot about our way of playing. I have a good connection with our left winger Anass Zaroury, who plays with his right leg pulls in and I have to provide the overlap. It can always be better, but I’m certainly not dissatisfied.”
The player was also asked about the intensity of games in England, and claims to be used to that.
“It is sometimes tough, but as a young player you learn an awful lot. Of course it sometimes happens that strong players hit me, but as a team you have to respond smartly. I think that Malacia and Lisandro Martínez show that smaller defenders can also be successful.”
