The Gravenberch family has been looking forward to Sunday afternoon, when Sparta Rotterdam and Ajax will be each other’s opponents on the first match day of the Eredivisie. Danzell Gravenberch and Ryan Gravenberch tackle each other in Rotterdam West. The 26-year-old striker switched from FC Dordrecht to the Castle earlier this summer and now there is a brother-in-law on the program. “We got the program and I had to laugh. How is this possible? Of the seventeen opponents, we play first against Sparta, my brother’s club “, says the youngest Gravenberch laughing.

“I see Danzell a lot. And then he does challenge me a little. That it is annoying for Ajax: one played, zero points “, the eighteen-year-old Gravenberch said in a conversation with The Telegraph. ‘And he allows me to score, because he makes two anyway, he says at least. But I do not think it will happen. The question, of course, is whether the two will really meet within the lines. “I would leave him completely behind, but I would show him that he should keep a distance from his older brother,” says Danzell Gravenberch laughing. “I’m a proud brother and full of praise for Ryan’s development.”

“He has exceptional qualities. Ryan can release players, overtake a man of stagnation and is a graceful player. ‘The youngest Gravenberch feels the confidence of Ajax and Erik ten Hag, who insist on reliability in the teenager. “In the past, I sometimes went to bed. And Winston Bogarde also helped me defend. As an assistant and former top defender, he works closely with the defenders and the controlling midfielders. ”

“I can defend harder. And the balance between attack and defense must be even better “, says Ryan Gravenberch about himself. ‘I’m not a buyer by nature. With my height, I really need to make goal kicks. In itself, it is going well. I’m happy with the preparation I did, but I’m fully aware that it’s not worth it if we do not beat Sparta. ”

Danzell Gravenberch came up with fifteen duels for Young Ajax, but he never made the first. He ends up in the Eredivisie via a detour. ‘I always compare Danzell to Brian Brobbey. We are therefore physically different, but also in character. I’m calm and he’s more grrrrr. I would like to like his fanaticism. But a little more Ryan will also make Danzell a better footballer. ”