Seedorf has English desire
AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has reiterated his desire to play in the English Premier League, and has revealed he will not be short of options if and when he decides to make the move.
The 32-year-old Dutchman, who has a contract at the San Siro until 2011, admitted he has been attracting the attention of a number of the league’s top clubs for over a decade.
However, while he has rejected a move to England in the past, he explained that changes to the English game in recent years due to an influx of foreign managers has made him reconsider.
“England has always been one of the most interesting leagues in the world but from a football point of view it has improved a lot,” he told BBC Sport.
“That is without even mentioning the stadiums, the atmosphere and the crowd. That has always been fantastic.
“Now, in the last years of my career, I am looking at it and of course it is attractive.
“English football has had a transformation in the last few years with all the foreign players playing there. The traditional English style of play has become much more international.
“The mentality has stayed the same and the culture is always there but globalisation has become part of the football industry and you can see the influence of the foreign coaches too.
“Look at Rafa Benitez at Liverpool or Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. He has been there for a few years now and they don’t play typical English football, neither do Manchester United.”
Seedorf, who is currently in England with AC Milan for the UEFA Cup clash with Portsmouth on Thursday, revealed United and Arsenal have been long-term admirers of his.
“I have had the opportunity to play in England at various times before but not in the past six years,” he continued.
“I was contacted when I was at Sampdoria in 1996 by Arsenal and Manchester United – or at least the club was.
“United have been interested a few times since then – they and Arsenal definitely, other teams maybe, but nothing I knew directly about.”
And Seedorf’s admiration of the recent changes in English football was not limited to the nation’s league.
The midfielder revealed his belief that England boss Fabio Capello – who Seedorf played under at Real Madrid in the 1990s – was capable of turning the Three Lions into a World Cup winning side.
“Capello knows how to get the best out of players and I think you have started to see that with England already,” he explained.
“It is the result of focus and team spirit. If the English players are willing to work with each other and put their egos apart then I think they have to aspire to win the next World Cup.
“Team sport is all about people management, especially when you work with the best players.
“You don’t have to teach them to play football, you just have to make sure they become a team; that they are willing to work together towards their goal. And you can leave that up to Capello.”
