Ex Barcelona Winger Calls Inter Milan Star ‘The Jewel In The Crown’ Of Netherlands At EURO 2024

Former Barcelona and Stoke City winger Ibrahim Afellay feels that Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries is the “jewel in the crown” for the Netherlands at EURO 2024.

Afellay praised the 28-year-old’s performances at the Euros in an interview with Dutch outlet NOS, via FCInterNews.

This summer in Germany, Dumfries has continued to be a regular starter for the Netherlands.

The Inter wingback is not without competition in his position.

There is Jeremie Frimpong, who is coming off the back of an outstanding season with Bayer Leverkusen.

Then, Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida also presents an option playing on the right of a back four.

But so far at the Euros, Oranje coach Ronald Koeman has gone with Dumfries.

The former PSV man has been the starter on the right of the Netherlands’ back four for much of the group stage, and in both of the team’s knockout matches so far.

It looks very likely that Dumfries will also be in the lineup against England in the semifinals.

Ibrahim Afellay: Denzel Dumfries “The Jewel In The Crown” For The Netherlands

Dumfries has not always been a starter for his club Inter.

Last season, the Dutchman alternated with former Manchester United and Torino veteran Matteo Darmian on the right flank.

Part of the reason for this was fitness-related.

Dumfries had a couple spells on the sidelines with muscle injuries. And even when he was available to play, the Dutchman did not quite look at his explosive best.

It was generally Darmian who got the nod in the biggest matches for Inter.

However, that has not held Dumfries back from playing an important role for his country at the Euros.

“He’s the leading figure of this team,” Afellay said of Dumfries.

“We’re not the best team in terms of individual players, if we look at other national sides,” the former Dutch international added.

“But you don’t have to have the best players to be the best team.”

“I can’t be too angry with Dumfries for his error on the corner,” Afellay added of the Netherlands’ quarterfinal clash with Turkey.

“He just seemed to short-circuit.”

“But then just look at how he reacted,” the former winger praised the Inter wingback. “Dumfries is really the jewel in the crown of this Dutch team.”