Netherlands icon Wesley Sneijder has urged fans to stop comparing Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo to Arjen Robben, as they are two very different players.
The former midfielder has made the call to fans via Soccer News, insisting it’s unfair for Dutch fans to compare Gakpo to his former teammate.
The Liverpool star has been the undisputed best player for the Netherlands this summer, with a series of impressive performances for Ronald Koeman’s side at Euro 2024 in Germany.
He was very much a key reason as to why they reached the semi-finals of the tournament, bagging goals in all three of their group stage games against Poland, Austria and Romania, as well as an assist against the latter in the 3-0 win.
That took his tally to 13 goals in 30 games for his country to date, a solid record for a player who left Euro 2024 with three goals and one assist in six games, a record that currently has him joint top in the goalscoring charts as well.
Those goals were largely garnered from him cutting in from the left and shooting at goal, a trick Robben became synonymous for, albeit on the opposite side of the pitch.
Thus, the comparisons between the Liverpool man and the former Dutch star have been easy to make, but Sneijder is not impressed and wants them to end immediately.
“I don’t understand it because they are two completely different players,” he said.
“Why do you have to compare them? It’s a different time. Other things are desired. People should stop making comparisons.
“People should just enjoy themselves. Also, those discussions about Memphis Depay. If he scores the winning one, he is suddenly the hero. In football it can all suddenly be different.”
