Micky van de Ven has expressed his delight at being called up to the Netherlands national team for the first time, admitting that it is another big milestone for him in a short space of time.

The 22-year-old arrived at Spurs as a bit of an unknown, having just had one good season in the Bundesliga but the North London club’s decision to pay £43m for the centre-back has already been vindicated.

The Dutchman has hardly put a foot wrong so far and seems to have adapted seamlessly to the Premier League, which even experienced central defenders have failed to do in the past.

Van de Ven’s partnership with Cristian Romero seems to have all the makings of a solid pairing, with the pair complementing each other well.

The young defender has now been rewarded with a call-up to the senior Netherlands squad by Ronald Koeman.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 29: Rodrigo Muniz of Fulham challenges for the ball with Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on August 29, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Van de Ven earns first senior Netherlands call up

After joining up with the squad, the Tottenham man told the official OnsOranje channel: “(It’s) fantastic. It’s a great honour to be here. It’s something beautiful. It’s another milestone in a short career.”

When asked what his dad told him when he dropped him to training at the camp, he responded: “(My father) told me to enjoy (it) and show what I can do. I have to say, I haven’t had the realisation moment yet. My family helps me to think about it more often. It’s all going quite fast and I hope to keep this pace.”

The new Tottenham signing admitted that he hopes to learn a lot from watching how some of the Dutch superstars train and prepare for matches.

Van De Ven added: “Of course, I can watch how the other guys train. Like Frenkie [de Jong], Virgil [Van Djik], Matthijs [de Ligt], big players in my position. So, of course, I can learn from them.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Van de Ven evidently has a calm head on his shoulders and comes across as extremely mature and wise for his age, which is perhaps a testament to the support group he has around him. While it is still early days, he potentially has all the makings of a future Tottenham captain.

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