Features

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Name: Wesley Sneijder

Age: 26

Playing Position: Attacking midfielder

Current Club: FC Internazionale

International Caps/Goals: 63/15

Individual honours: Ajax Player of the Year 2007, UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament

The orchestrator of the Netherlands, Sneijder is the product of the famed Ajax Academy. He made his professional debut for Ajax in 2002 as an eighteen year old. Five years later he was bought by European giants Real Madrid for a fee of €27 million. Meanwhile, he made his senior debut for Netherlands in 2003, taking part in Euro 2004 as a squad player. By the time 2006 World Cup arrived; he was a regular starter for the Oranje. Following Florentino Perez’s re-election as the Madrid President, Sneijder was seen as surplus to requirements and was offloaded to Internazionale. In his first year under Jose Mourinho, Sneijder grew into a player his potential asked for. He won the treble including the European Champions League. He possesses excellent passing range with either foot, can shoot from long distances and manoeuvre the ball as he pleases. Sneijder is also a threat from dead-ball situations. The little Dutchman has scored and created lot of memorable goals for Van Marwijk’s side. He will be the key to how the other Dutch superstars like Van Persie, Huntelaar, Kuyt and Robben perform at this World Cup.