The Netherlands winger is set to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season but could join another club. Here’s why Spurs should take an interest.
Cast your eyes back a decade to 2009 – Tottenham Hotspur were a different proposition to today’s crop, finishing eighth in the top flight, and when they were linked with Dutch winger Arjen Robben, then of Real Madrid and previously of Chelsea, his father described the speculation as “absolute nonsense”.
Speaking to The Guardian in June 2009, Hans Robben is quoted as saying: “We don’t talk with Tottenham. At the moment we don’t talk with any club. Of course, things can change overnight, but one thing is sure: Arjen will certainly not join Tottenham.”
Nine-and-a-half years on, Robben Jr is embarking on his final season at Bayern Munich, a club where he has become a bona fide legend, while Spurs are a legitimate Premier League and Champions League contender.
Speaking to Kicker, the 34-year-old winger said: “When an offer comes, of which I am 100% convinced and say ‘that’s something nice, I want to do that’, then I continue playing. If the ideal offer does not come, then it can be over.”
The standout offer is said to come from PSV Eindhoven, Robben’s last club in the Netherlands and currently managed by Mark van Bommel, his former teammate at PSV, Bayern and the Dutch side, according to executive Toon Gerbrands’ interview with Omroep Brabant.
As outlandish a proposition as it may initially seem, Tottenham should consider moving in with an offer for the veteran, given he appears more than capable of still turning out at the top level, not to mention being able to slot into the north Londoners’ style of play.
This season, Robben has played on the right flank in both a 4-2-3-1 (Mauricio Pochettino’s preferred formation at Spurs) and in a 4-1-4-1 at Bayern, but as discussed in this 2015 tactical analysis piece by Bayern Central, he is incredibly versatile across the front line – so could potentially cover for either Son Heung-min or Lucas Moura in a 4-2-3-1 or 3-5-2.
Both Spurs and Bayern like playing passing, possession-based football, so there wouldn’t be too much of a transition for Robben, while his speed, passing ability and of course his famous habit of cutting in onto his left foot and shooting would be an asset for any team.
So Tottenham, a decade after being snubbed by the Robbens, should now reannounce themselves to them as a completely different beast to the side of yesteryear and seek to give the Dutch maestro the chance to see out his career under the visionary Pochettino, seeking to add to his two Premier League titles, and in a shiny new stadium.
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