Wouter Verstraaten admitted that he was offered a one-year contract with Sunderland but turned down the League One giants to stay at South Shields, while speaking to RTL Nieuws.
It is not often a player rejects the chance to sign for one of the best-supported clubs in English football in order to stay in the seventh tier.
But Verstraaten obviously felt that the time was not right to make a big jump up the footballing pyramid.
The 24-year-old former PSV Eindhoven youngster enjoyed an eye-catching trial period with Sunderland earlier in the year, before the nationwide lockdown got in the way of course.
And Verstraaten, who claims that Sunderland were ‘very impressed’ with him, believes he has made the right decision continuing his development away from the spotlight of the Stadium of Light.
“I had only just started at South Shields, and was suddenly asked from Sunderland if I wanted to do a training internship,” the Dutchman explained. “I did this immediately.
“We played a friendly match against Liverpool U23, with the best youth players in the world! It immediately felt good at Sunderland and in terms of level I felt that I could handle this.
“Sunderland offered me a one-year contract but South Shields didn’t want to lose me and then came up with a very nice offer. It was a difficult choice, but in the end I decided to continue with South Shields a little longer.
“I can definitely develop further at this level. I feel at home here, but I am far from finished playing football. There are certainly still great opportunities to come. Actually it has only just started. ”
The events of 2020/21 have done little to suggest that Verstraaten made the wrong call.
Sunderland started the season impressively but dropped off dramatically in recent weeks; a run of two wins in nine games costing Phil Parkinson his job.
Verstraaten adds that he is still determined to prove himself at the highest possible level. And, if he continues to impress in non-league, it would be little surprise if Sunderland come calling again.
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