By Arnaldo Fernandez
01 Dec 2023, 16:50 PM EST
Luuk De Jong was wanted by Toluca to reinforce their forward line two seasons ago. However, The Dutch striker decided to continue his career in Europe, specifically in the club of his loves, PSV Eindhoven. There in the Netherlands they are first in the Eredivise with a total of 13 victories and will also play in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Toluca presented at the time, according to reports in the Mexican press, an offer for the forward who was then rejected by FC Barcelona and Sevilla. The 33-year-old forward had other plans that did not include the eleven choriceras and that is how he decided to return to his country.
At PSV he is a teammate of Chucky Lozano and he also has important numbers in a department in which he surpasses none other than Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski.
Luuk De Jong is the “King of the Air”
Since Luuk De Jong made his Eredivise debut in November 2008, no player in Europe’s six major competitions has scored more headed goals than him.
De Jong has 74 headed goals in 418 games distributed between his country’s championship, the Premier and La Liga. With these figures already has surpassed Cristiano Ronaldowho scored 69 aerial goals between England (Manchester United), Spain (Real Madrid) and Serie A (Juventus) before leaving for Saudi Arabia.
In addition to “El Bicho”, Robert Lewandowski and the retired Fernando Llorente occupy third place, with 51 headed goals. The Frenchman Olivier Giroud has 45 and behind them a three-way tie between Edinson Cavani, Edin Dzeko and Harry Kane with 43 headed scores.
“I’m not going to compare myself to those types of forwards.which are fantastic, but it is true that I have a quality with which I have been able to score many goals,” said De Jong in an interview for US.
Luuk De Jong’s second youth
Since his arrival at PSV Eindhoven, Luuk De Jong is experiencing a second youth and it is reflected in his numbers individual and collective. The team has 13 wins in the same number of games in the Eredivise, in addition to those led by Peter Bosz They total 48 goals, of which 10 are from the striker 33 years old.
In addition to the 10 goals, Luuk De Jong has six assists and five more goals during the Champions League qualification and two in the group stage of the top continental competition.
For Toluca, the Dutch striker would have been a great alternative since his lack of goals led them to be left out of the Liga MX Liguilla and to continue looking for a coach after the departure of Ignacio Ambriz.
Keep reading:
. Luuk de Jong, the number 9 from the Netherlands who announces his retirement from the national team
. Toluca’s frustration is realized: Luuk De Jong officially returns to PSV
. What is the value of Alejandro Garnacho, the young Argentine who celebrates goals like Cristiano Ronaldo?