Tottenham Hotspur and head coach Roberto De Zerbi have highlighted Micky van de Ven’s leadership qualities after the defender signed a new contract with the club.
New deal and captaincy candidate
The 25-year-old Dutchman committed his future to Spurs on Monday night, with the club’s statement noting that he captained the team in the final six matches of last season under De Zerbi.
With Cristian Romero widely expected to leave this summer, Van de Ven could be a leading contender to take over the captaincy. Negotiations with Atletico Madrid are said to have begun, though no formal bid has been submitted yet. Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Arsenal have also shown interest, but a move to Arsenal appears unlikely due to the rivalry.
De Zerbi and Lange praise
De Zerbi said: “Micky is one of the best centre-backs in Europe and an important player for us. He has the qualities, mentality and ambition that we want at Tottenham Hotspur, and I am very happy that he has decided to continue his journey with the club.”
Sporting director Johan Lange added: “His growth and development over the past three years - as both a player and a person - has been huge, and he is now without doubt one of the outstanding defenders in European football.”
