Better than Bellingham – Van der Vaart tips Liverpool midfielder for the top

Rafael van der Vaart has repeated his claim that he believes Ryan Gravenberch has the ability to be better than Jude Bellingham.

Former Netherlands international Van der Vaart first made the suggestion last year when the pair were plying their trades in the Bundesliga – Gravenberch at Bayern Munich and Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund – and received plenty of stick as a result.

Bellingham moved to Real Madrid last summer and enjoyed a wonderful first season at the Bernabeu, helping the club to a La Liga and Champions League double.

Gravenberch joined Liverpool three months later but struggled to make a similar impression as Jurgen Klopp’s side finished third in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old has been transformed, however, under new Anfield boss Arne Slot. Gravenberch has produced a series of hugely impressive performances for Liverpool, while he also starred for the Dutch in their 2-2 draw with Germany on Tuesday night, with one 60-yard, defence-splitting pass for Xavi Simons demonstrating his immense talent.

Love it, @RGravenberch 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/XS6lBnH2r4

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 12, 2024

Van der Vaart, speaking exclusively to BetMGM, said: “I took quite a lot of stick when I said Ryan Gravenberch has the potential to be better than Jude Bellingham a year or so ago, but I stand by it.

“I’ve always said the sky’s the limit for him if he can use his full potential and ability, so I’m not surprised by how good he’s been this season both for Liverpool and the Netherlands.

“Arne Slot has found a spot for him in the team at Liverpool and he’s thriving – you just have to look at the pass he played against Germany on Tuesday to show this is a player who has everything required to go right to the top.

“He’s strong, quick and intelligent – Liverpool fans should be very excited about what’s to come.”

Van der Vaart also heaped praise on Slot, who has led Liverpool to three wins from his first three games in charge.

The former Real Madrid man added: “A lot of people didn’t know too much about Slot before he came to Liverpool but I’m his biggest fan and have been for a long time. 

“Some of the football his Feyenoord team played was unbelievable, particularly as he did with only okay players.

”It’s such a good choice from Liverpool because, for a club as big as them, it’s so easy to go and find a big, household name that everyone knows but they’ve gone for someone that very few in England had heard of.

“I’ve met him a few times and the thing that really struck me was that when he talks you believe what he says. It’s always nice when a coach is honest and everything they say is genuine – I think a lot of Liverpool fans have already noticed that with Slot. I’m really surprised no other big clubs came in for him.

“Jurgen Klopp did so well for such a long time with many of the players Slot has inherited and the fact he’s getting the quality performances out of them so early on shows what a good coach he is.

“Look at Mohamed Salah – he’s happy, he’s smiling and he really looks like he’s enjoying his football again. That wasn’t always the case last season but Slot has come in and almost made him look like a new signing.”