The Rotterdammers technical director admits that the former AZ Alkmaar defender’s move away from De Kuip Stadion was imminent, and insists that his experience and leadership will be missed at the club.
Feyenoord Rotterdam technical director, Martin van Geel, has insisted that his side will miss the leadership and experience of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ron-Vlaar-c31697, who will be joining Aston Villa after passing his medical in the coming days.
The 27-year-old joined the Rotterdammers half-way through the 2005/06 season after spending one-and-a-half season at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AZ-c38571 Alkmaar.
Despite making only 40 league appearances in his first three seasons at De Kuip Stadion, the talented central defender went on to represent the Rotterdam giants in 132 Eredivisie games until the end of the 2011/12 season.
The highly-rated central defender played an integral role in his side’s second place finish on the Eredivisie table in the recently concluded campaign, and the club’s technical director has acknowledged that his side will miss
the former AZ stopper.
“Ron was the flagship of our club. He was the captain and a real leader who had a fantastic season. His experience and leadership will be a miss for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Feyenoord-c39258”, Van Geel was quoted as saying to the club’s official website.
The Rotterdammers chief went on to insist that his side knew that it would be extremely difficult to prolong the centre-back’s stay in Rotterdam, as he had his heart set on a move away from De Kuip Stadion this summer for greener
pastures.
“We knew that after spending almost seven years at Feyenoord, Ron was keen to move abroad, and had his heart set on a move to join one of the English Premier League side. Aston Villa showed their interest, and he was quick to indicate
that a move to Villa Park will be a dream move for him”, Van Geel added.
The Villans were always the favourites in landing the Dutchman’s signature, but they acquired his services after plenty of drama, which even forced the defender to state that a move to Villa Park seems to be off earlier this week.
Nonetheless, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-c29347 Lambert’s side managed to strike a deal with the Eredivisie club, though, Van Geel admits that his side was hoping for the move to materialise a bit earlier.
“We would have preferred that this transfer had come around a week earlier”, the Feyenoord technical director concluded.
Vlaar will sign a contract that will keep him at Villa Park until the summer of 2015 after undergoing a medical on Monday, July 30.
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