Tottenham Hotspur’s summer signing Vincent Janssen says it would be a “huge honour” to be compared to Manchester United and Dutch great Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Spurs clinched Janssen’s services in July in a £17 million deal from AZ Alkmaar, where the 22-year-old netted 27 times in 34 matches.
While Janssen admitted he still has plenty of work to do to emulate van Nistelrooy’s incredible career, he does hope to one day be “mentioned in the same breath” as the now 40-year-old.
“I wouldn’t say we’re being mentioned in the same breath – maybe that will come. I would think that’s an enormous honour,” he told a Dutch publication.
“I’m not as far as him yet.
“I’ve always felt a strong urge to prove myself. Maybe that’s my biggest talent.
“I can tell the crowd appreciates the way I play.
“Within the squad I was immediately accepted. We have a young, ambitious group, with no players who feel they’ve already arrived. That made it easier, I think.
“I really was accommodated fantastically.”
Interestingly, Janssen and van Nistelrooy hail from a similar part of the Netherlands. Janssen was born in the town of Heesch, while the latter is from Oss.
Janssen has yet to get off the mark in the Premier League.
