The midfielder not only enjoys the successes, but also the small things, such as praying together with his teammates. “We have quite a lot of believing boys in the team. Before the competition we are always in a room and we pray together. I think that’s wonderful. I like all kinds of things. ”
Wijnaldum speaks during prayer. “Then I pray for the competition, but also that we can experience it, that we are healthy and for all the little things that are very normal for us. But we are actually very blessed. ”
Return at Feyenoord or Sparta
The international is thinking of returning to Feyenoord, PSV or Sparta at the end of his career. It is not expected in the short term. In a few years it could be an option for Wijnaldum. “I see myself returning to Feyenoord, PSV or Sparta.”
Wijnaldum started his career in the youth of Sparta and moved to Feyenoord in the C-tjes. Yet he does not rule out a return to the Castle. “I sometimes look at Sparta and then I think:” Well, it would be nice if I played there in my last years. ” In the Netherlands I have played at three clubs and I have had a very good feeling about all three, but you can only choose one. “
He does not want to make hard promises about a return to De Kuip or to The Castle. “I also learn from other players. Van Nistelrooij once made the promise to return, but at a later age he did not want that anymore. What I am now experiencing is unique. You want to play at the highest level and win prizes. as Clarence Seedorf. My dream is to stay fit as long as I do, just like him, Zlatan or Ronaldo. I want to play at a high level until I am 38. ”
Thought to stop
When Wijnaldum plays football, the fun drips off. That has been different sometimes. In his time at PSV, he often had to play as right winger instead of his beloved midfield. In the long run, that was so bad that he even thought about quitting football. “I really didn’t like it,” says a frank Wijnaldum. “Why do I still do it?” I thought. “Do I still want it?” But it never got that far. I have thought about it, but I also thought, “What am I going to do if I actually stop?” I didn’t actually have plan B. “
Willem van Hanegem saw him ruin. “Unfortunately, he was not my trainer”, says Wijnaldum. Van Hanegem wrote a column in the Algemeen Dagblad and Wijnaldum called him. Like they still call weekly. “Willem wrote exactly what I felt. I wanted to know why he wrote that. People like him and Wim Jansen have a different perspective on football. I was in daily contact with Willem and thanks to him – and Wim Jansen – I enjoy football has been found again. “
Although Wijnaldum’s career started at the Castle, he was an early supporter of Feyenoord. Although it was not always appreciated by him at Sparta. “I didn’t dare say at Sparta that I was for Feyenoord,” laughs Wijnaldum. “Feyenoord was taboo at Sparta. When they asked who I was at the club I always said Ajax, but I was actually for Feyenoord.”
That feeling became even stronger when he and Jeffrey Bruma and his sister went to an Open Day in the Kuip. “Then I was crazy about that club and I wanted to play for Feyenoord.”
Racism
In November, Wijnaldum made a clear statement during an international match of the Dutch national team against Estonia by holding their arms together in front of the TV camera after a goal with teammate Frenkie de Jong to indicate that everyone is equal. With this they reacted to the racist slogans a few days earlier at the address of Ahmad Mendes Moreira during the match between FC Den Bosch and Excelsior.
Black Pete
Wijnaldum’s campaign went around the world. “Very often people don’t understand what we feel like brown boys,” says the Liverpool player, referring to racist remarks directed at dark people. “We’re experiencing it, it’s small things. Like someone, for example black Pete says to a brown boy. Such jokes are not fun. Action must be taken against this. Now it is still too lax. “
Reporter Frank Stout spoke to Wijnaldum for a long time during his short vacation in Dubai. The result is a personal and candid conversation with the best football player in our region. About football and about many things outside of sport.
Watch the special broadcast of FC Rijnmond above. You can also find the full conversation of no less than an hour above.
Listen below to our podcast with Georginio Wijnaldum. From Friday there is also an FC Rijnmond Podcast every week.
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