Cagliari have announced the signing of Kevin Strootman from Marseille on loan with an option to buy.
“Cagliari Calcio are delighted to announce that the player Kevin Strootman has been signed from Olympique Marseille on loan until 30 June 2022 with an option to renew for the following season,” the Sardinian’s official statement reads.
“Born in Ridderkerk, South Holland, on February 13, 1990, he grew up in the Academy of Sparta Rotterdam, with whom he made his debut in the Eredivisie at just 18 years old: he will play 84 games on the whole, score 11 goals, marking himself as one of the most interesting new recruits of Dutch football.
“After moving to Utrecht in January 2011 (16 games, 2 goals), he was signed by PSV Eindhoven the following season. In two years with the red and white team he took the field 88 times, between national competitions and the Europa League: good assist.man (he collected 28), scored 14 goals and conquered 1 Dutch Cup and 1 Super Cup.
🤝 | DEAL DONE#Strootman al Cagliari ‼️
Benvenuto in Sardegna, Kevin 😍I dettagli ↙️
🇮🇹: https://t.co/bWoAaOXZ7w
🇬🇧: https://t.co/nkMTADsM7E#welkomStrootman#forzaCasteddu pic.twitter.com/MQjGQ8okhb— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) July 3, 2021
“In 2013 he arrived in Italy, at Roma, where he immediately stood out for his very high performance. Renamed “The washing machine”, for his brilliant ability to “clean up” the playing – regaining even the most difficult balls and making them available to his teammates – in his Giallorossi years he is a protagonist in Serie A and in the international cups: in the 2017-18 season he is among the architects of the Olimpico’s comeback against Barcelona, which leads the team to the Champions League semifinal. He will close his experience in the capital after 131 appearances, 13 goals and 19 assists.
“In the summer of 2018, he moved to France to Olympique Marseille: with the French side he played 78 games – including Ligue 1, French Cup, Champions League and Europa League – scoring 3 goals and making 9 assists.
“Last January he returned to Italy in the ranks of Genoa: here with his performances (18 games, 4 assists) he gives his contribution to the permanence of the team in Serie A. He boasts 46 appearances and 3 goals for the Dutch national team.
“Experience, physicality, technique, ability to get into the box, powerful and precise shooting, desire to win: there is all this in Kevin Strootman’s repertoire. A modern, natural left-handed midfielder, capable of playing in all areas of the midfield, depending on the needs and moments of the match. Tactically intelligent, he dictates game times to his teammates, heart and brain of the team.
“Now Strootman will be able to put his qualities at the service of Cagliari: welkom op Sardinië, Kevin!”
Strootman had joined Genoa on a dry loan deal in January, playing 18 games with the Grifone.
The Sardinians announced the signing of the former Roma star in style on Twitter, using the ‘Kevin’s Not Here’ clip from the movie Home Alone.
𝖬𝖺𝗆𝗆𝖺, 𝗁𝗈 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼 𝗅'𝖺𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗈 😎
@Kevin_strootman #welkomStrootman#forzaCasteddu pic.twitter.com/hx7gA9agkB— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) July 3, 2021
Pic credit: Cagliari Calcio