Policymakers Jasper van Leeuwen and Ruben Jongkind of FC Volendam are full of praise for Francesco Antonucci’s development. According to Van Leeuwen and Jongkind, the midfielder, who will be out of his rental contract next summer and will join Feyenoord, has statistically even better figures than many former star players from the Kitchen Champion Division. After the summer he can show himself at the highest level in De Kuip under the leadership of Arne Slot. “That is very special”, says Jongkind in conversation with Football International.
Jongkind was given responsibility for the training at Volendam, while Wim Jonk and Van Leeuwen started working as trainer and technical director respectively. Antonucci is working on his second rental season in Volendam, after Feyenoord decided to take him over from AS Monaco after one year. “If you look at the number of goals, assists and key passes per sixty minutes, he is better than Frenkie (de Jong, ed.), Donny (van de Beek, ed.), Appie (Nouri, ed.) And Donyell (Malen). , ed.) “, Jongkind is full of praise. “That is very special. It is a clear indication that he should also be able to do it at a higher level.”
Slot will have to play an important role in this. Antonucci had not yet spoken to his new teacher. “But he has already come to watch twice and who knows he also sees many matches on television,” said the 21-year-old midfielder in the weekly. “But I already like the fact that he was there. He is known as a coach who likes to work with young players. I hope I can show him that I work on all facets of the game and can bring what he wants players to do. So not only with the ball, but also without the ball. But it is for later. I first want to close well at Volendam and help the club promote, that is my big dream for now. “
Van Leeuwen sees a bright future for his pupil at Feyenoord. It was he who brought Antonucci to Ajax in the past at the age of sixteen. “I think and hope that Arne Slot suits him, he is known for being able to work with young players by teaching them, being patient, but also giving them confidence,” said the technical director. “The latter has Franco really necessary. If that happens, Feyenoord will have gold in hand. If you look purely at quality, he would have been the most technical player this season with Berghuis. “
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