11 May 2024 , 07:00
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Justin Kluivert has obvious inspiration to play for his country at Euro 2024 given his father Patrick famously starred for Holland on the biggest stage.
But his eyes light up when he thinks about a film he would often watch as the Bournemouth attacker speaks about hoping to find a way into Ronald Koeman’s squad this summer. ‘In Oranje’ is the story of a Dutch boy who overcomes personal tragedy to make it all the way to the top of the game.
“It was so beautiful,” said Kluivert. “Step by step he’s achieving his dream. There are some struggles that he’s going through. The ups and downs that come into the football also.
“Looking at it when you’re young, you think ‘I want to be that guy’. He’s so good at football, you got to watch it. I see a bit of myself in that now. All those difficult moments I’ve been through, I cherish them. Everything goes bad, not only in football but life too, there is always something positive too.”
Now Kluivert is looking to continue his own story. Being the son of the Dutch footballing legend who played for Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, Newcastle and more, football was always going to be Kluivert Jnr’s life. “With a dad like that you want to become a football player,” he said.
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“Then in Holland football is massive so you love playing football so I played since I was so young, I can’t even remember. I’m lucky to say I made it because a lot of guys don’t make it.”
Kluivert has made it but it hasn’t always been easy. He broke out as a teenager at Ajax, the same club his father began with. But then in 2018, he made the bold move to Roma. But it didn’t work out. Not long after he joined, the manager Eusebio Di Francesco left and sporting director Monchi departed not long after.
Kluivert has matched his dad's Premier League tally of six goals already at Bournemouth (Getty Images)
Patrick Kluivert was an icon for the Netherlands during his distinguished playing career (Getty Images)It led to loan spells at RB Leipzig, Nice and Valencia and a nomad existence that he struggled with. It also saw him fall out of favour with his national side after making his debut at 18.
“They were difficult years,” he said. “You come from Holland, you are the biggest talent from Holland and everyone loves and admires you and then I choose to make a big step and I choose to go in the big leagues of world football. I go to Italy and it doesn’t go as planned, you know? That’s also football you know.
“You learn and try to develop yourself and get better. I was 19, the coach leaves, the technical director who bought you leaves and then you see the other side of football where it’s not, ‘if you just train good, you play’. You know?
“There are a lot of things that come with it. I learn from these things and I like challenges. I took it as a challenge and I’m happy where I’m at now. All those things are in my backpack, all those years I’m thankful of and I can’t wait to take all these things out when needed.”
Now Kluivert feels like he’s found his home. Last summer, Bournemouth paid almost £10m to bring him to the Premier League to work with new boss Andoni Iraola. The Cherries - who face Brentford on Saturday - have secured their record points tally in the Premier League already.
And on a personal level, he’s become the first player to score in six major European leagues and also surpassed his dad’s tally of six Premier League goals from his stint at Newcastle in 2004-05. “He’s happy for me,” Kluivert said with a laugh.
“I never fell out of love with the game. I was always happy, positive. Everyone asks me how am I always positive? I was on loan a lot of years, I was tired of that to be fair and I just wanted to be part of a club that sees a big future in me that I see myself.
“We can push further up the table and towards European spots.” But first he’s hoping to write his own Dutch fairytale story that may be as inspiring as the one in the film he watched as a child.
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“Imagine scoring a few goals for your country in a tournament? It would be beautiful so let's hope.”
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