Reiziger backs Kluivert to star in England
Middlesbrough’s latest signing Michael Reiziger has tipped former Barcelona team-mate Patrick Kluivert to rebuild his reputation in the Barclays Premiership if he decides to go to England.
The 31-year-old Dutch full-back completed his free transfer move to the Teesside club yesterday after signing a two-year deal with the option of a third.
It has now emerged that neighbours Newcastle have opened negotiations to take Kluivert, also previously a target for Steve McClaren, to St James’ Park.
Reiziger and Kluivert have both just returned from international duty with Holland, where the defender helped his side reach the semi-finals of Euro 2004 while the former Ajax striker sat on the bench throughout after seeing his career go into freefall in recent months.
However, the Boro new boy knows just what a threat Kluivert can be and believes he will prove himself once again if he gets the chance to test himself in the Premiership.
“I know he had a difficult year in Barcelona,” said Reiziger. “At the beginning, he was injured and after that he didn’t play many games.
“But in the last two months, I’ve seen him train in the Dutch team and he was strong again, and if he’s strong, he sure is one of the best strikers in Europe.”
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