Luciano Valente was allowed to report to Jong Oranje this week for the European Championship under 21. For the FC Groningen midfielder with Italian roots, it is the culmination of his breakthrough season. “I see my head everywhere on Instagram.”
Valente thought he was going to process the blow of missing the European Championship with Jong Oranje in Curaçao. But while he was flying over the Atlantic Ocean last week on his way to the island, a message from national coach Michael Reiziger appeared on his phone screen.
“He called via WhatsApp, but I couldn’t answer. I still had to fly for five hours,” Valente says on Tuesday during the press moment at Hotel Oud London in Zeist. “But when the national coach is looking for you, you know what time it is.”
Reiziger informed Valente in a message that due to the withdrawal of NEC midfielder Dirk Proper, he can still go to the European Championship in Slovakia later this month with Jong Oranje. Valente enjoyed two more days with his friends in Curaçao before reporting in Zeist.
“The fact that I had to go back was anything but a punishment,” says Valente. “It was quite a blow that I wasn’t initially included. The surprise that I’m going to experience it now was all the greater.”
‘No coincidence that it’s coming out now’
Based on his performance at FC Groningen, the call-up of the 21-year-old Valente is not surprising. The Groningen native broke through at the highest level this season and is regarded as one of the greatest talents in the Netherlands. He was also nominated for Talent of the Year in the Eredivisie.
The top year was a nice sequel to his good season in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. Valente played almost everything and became a mature player. “It is no coincidence that it is coming out now. The basis of what I have shown this year, I laid in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.”
That basis appears to be comprehensive. In terms of return (two goals and seven assists), there is room for improvement. But with his graceful play, smart passes and dribbles, he stood out constantly this year.
It is hard to imagine that Valente was still drowning two seasons ago at FC Groningen, which was hopelessly relegated from the Eredivisie. He played twenty league games that season. “The atmosphere was so bad and it didn’t work. Then it’s difficult to show yourself as a young player.”
“I thought: is this professional football? I won’t last a year like this. In the season in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie I saw that it can be different. We performed very well with a nice group. That’s how I rediscovered my football happiness.”
‘Friends are getting tired of my head’
That happiness radiates from Valente during the press moment of Jong Oranje, where he is the most requested player. It cannot be seen separately from the news that Feyenoord has reportedly offered millions several times for the midfielder, who was previously spotted in Rotterdam and spoke with trainer Robin van Persie.
Valente’s performances did not go unnoticed by experts. His name was often mentioned in talk shows and analysts spoke out about him. For example, Kees Kwakman called him “a top player”. In a sense, a Valente hype arose.
“A lot has absolutely changed in terms of attention. It’s all new to me,” says Valente, while giving an autograph to a boy in a Feyenoord shirt. “I am recognized more and more often, even recently at the airport. Until a year ago, only people in Groningen recognized me.”
“Do I get tired of the Valente hype? Yes, sometimes I do. Appreciation is nice, but it’s weird to keep seeing your head on social media. On vacation, my friends often saw a picture of me when they opened Instagram. Then they said: ‘We’re completely fed up with your head’. Well, me too, haha. Fortunately, I’m sober enough to focus on my performance.”
Internationals for Italy
Remarkably enough, Valente’s performances at FC Groningen were noticed earlier in Italy, his father’s country of birth. Roberto Valente met Valente’s mother 33 years ago during a vacation in Groningen.
Even before the KNVB had ever approached Valente, the Italian football association invited him to international matches with the under 19s and later the under 20s. “I was suddenly among players from Juventus and AC Milan. I only came from FC Groningen. It was a great honor.”
Yet Valente responded to Reiziger’s call for the international matches in March. He even made his debut against Italy and scored nicely in his second international match. Since then, Valente has had no contact with the Italian federation. Yet his choice for the Netherlands is not final.
“It is not smart to make a choice if it is not necessary yet. But the Netherlands has two stripes ahead. I want to become European champion with this team.”