John Verhoek, 21, has signed at Stade Rennes to reinforce the team’s attack. Pierre Dréossi, the club’s manager, is requesting patience towards the young Dutch striker, freshly transferred from Holland’s second division.
John Verhoek (pronounce « Verook »), 21 years, has discovered the Parc des sports de la route de Lorient this Wednesday morning. François Pinault, Stade Rennes’ main shareholder, and Patrick Le Lay, the club’s president, had even come to welcome him. “I was nicely surprised with this first training session, the striker declared in front of the media. The lads did everything to help my integration.”
In six months, the man born in Leidschendam,, in the suburb of Den Haag, has piled up goals with FC Den Bosch, a club from the dutch second division (10 in 18 games). Rennes’ scouts came to see him half a dozen times. Convinced, Pierre Dreossi seized the “opportunity”: “He is a very axial centre forward, a pivot payer, with real qualities in the air and very generous. A profile we did not have in the squad.” John Verhoek has signed a four and a half years contract with the club, for an undisclosed transfer fee.
After Razak Boukari, John Verhoek is the second attacking player to arrive in January. It was necessary to fill the gap denounced since long weeks by Frédéric Antonetti. “Rennes has done the job in terms of transfers, Patrick Le Lay rejoices. The fans were requesting us to bolster the attacking line, but finding a good forward isn’t simple.”
« I ask for a bit of patience towards this player, Pierre Dréossi insists. There is a big difference between the Dutch second division and Ligue 1’s top of the table.” In front of the media, the new number 19 (Jimmy Briand’s former number) admits that he will “have to adapt”. Coveted by English, German and Dutch clubs, he chose Rennes and made “a big step”. “When a big club wants you to come, you don’t say no”, he adds. Now, he wants to reduce his weaknesses, including a few technical lacks. “In one of the best training clubs in France, I’m sure they will help me to improve.” His objectives? “I want to learn a lot, give it everything and I hope I will become an important player for the club.”
Adick Cook, a former team-mate of Pierre Dréossi in Cannes from 1991 to 1998, is the player’s agent. He travelled to Brittany with the player and his family. The agent tells a story that reveals much about the character of a young man “reserved”, “very generous”, who “exploded over the last six months”: “His father had a small greengrocery in Den Haag, and the business grew to become one of the largest in Holland. Between the ages of 15 and 20, John and his two brothers worked nights with him to help setting up the business.”
ex-coéquipier de Pierre Dréossi à Cannes entre 1991 et 1998 est l’agent du footballeur. Il a fait, avec la famille du joueur, le déplacement en Bretagne. L’agent raconte une anecdote révélatrice du tempérament d’un garçon "réservé", "très généreux", qui a "explosé lors des six derniers mois" : "Son père avait un petit magasin de fruits et légumes à La Haye et est devenu l’un des plus grands commerçants en Hollande. Entre 15 et 20 ans, John et ses deux frères travaillaient la nuit avec lui pour construire son business."
Now, his challenge will be to impose himself and score against the strong Ligue 1 defences. Before the arrival, this summer, of another attacking player: Christian Benteke, a young Belgian international approached this winter and who “will mostly play on the wings”, according to Pierre Dréossi.
Nicolas Auffray - Le Mensuel de Rennes
- Photo : www.rennes.lemensuel.com
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