Joey Veerman does not hide his wish to leave SC Heerenveen. The midfielder has expressed himself several times in the media about a possible transfer. On Sunday he indicated that AZ had made an offer of 4.5 million euros for him, but that his employer is sticking to an asking price of 8 million. Valentijn Driessen calls it ‘totally inappropriate’ that Veerman expresses himself ‘verbally and non-verbally’ about his wish to leave.
In his column for The Telegraph Driessen compares Veerman’s situation to that of Teun Koopmeiners. The latter indicated at the beginning of the summer that he was ready for a step up. After the 3-1 victory over Heerenveen, he tearfully confirmed that his transfer to Atalanta had finally been completed. According to Italian transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio, AZ would have agreed to a transfer fee of fourteen million euros plus a resale percentage of unknown height.
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“The departure of Koopmeiners is a huge loss for AZ. At the same time, with the sale of own talents, this transfer summer is a reward for the policy pursued: training players, creating value and then selling,” writes Driessen, referring to the sale of Calvin Stengs (OGC Nice) and Myron Boadu (AS Monaco). “Heerenveen is looking for young gems elsewhere to further develop them in-house and then sell them for the top prize. Also successfully. Joey Veerman is the next exponent of this Frisian success policy.”
Just as AZ wanted to receive the first prize for Koopmeiners, Driessen thinks it is logical that Heerenveen has the same intention in the situation with Veerman. “Very often, Veerman allows himself to be verbal and non-verbal about this. Totally inappropriate,” he says. “It’s not just Heerenveen’s business strategy, Veerman and his agent were there themselves last year when they signed an extended contract on better terms without a limited transfer fee. Veerman is not allowed to whine.”
AZ raised 37 million euros this summer with the sale of Myron Boadu (AS Monaco), Calvin Stengs (OGC Nice) and Marco Bizot (Stade Brest). With the sale of Koopmeiners, that amount will exceed fifty million euros. “If AZ really wants to incorporate him, Huiberts will use part of the millions of income from Koopmeiners, Stengs and Boadu to get out with Heerenveen. Then Veerman can make the next career step in Alkmaar, close to his hometown of Volendam, where it is difficult for him to leave,” said Driessen.