Ryan Gravenberch did not notice that national coach Frank de Boer tried to call him on Wednesday morning for an invitation to the Dutch national team. The eighteen-year-old midfielder of Ajax was told that he was brought in from Orange as a replacement for Tonny Vilhena, infected with the corona virus.
“I received a call from the national coach this morning and first thought: who owns this number? He then sent an app that he had called. I did not know,” said Gravenberch on Wednesday. FOX Sports. “I don’t normally record anonymous songs.”
“I thought someone was joking with me”, the midfielder continues laughing. “Then he called me again and said he wanted to take me for the last two games.”
The eighteen-year-old Gravenberch, who makes his debut in the selection of the Dutch national team, has been called up for the Nations League games against Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sunday) and Poland (next Wednesday). He is not yet part of the selection for Wednesday’s friendly match against Spain.
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Ryan Gravenberch is experiencing his breakthrough at Ajax this season. (Photo: ANP)
‘It’s going pretty fast’
The invitation to the Dutch national team is a new turn in the rapid development of Gravenberch. The born Amsterdammer made his debut at the age of sixteen in the main force of Ajax and is now a fixed value in the team of trainer Erik ten Hag.
“It is going fast, also at Ajax”, Gravenberch admits. “If you are already called up for the Dutch national team at the age of eighteen, it goes quite fast. But I am prepared for it, even if the level is high here. I can learn something from everyone and hope that I will make my debut.”
Gravenberch was initially selected for the Juniors, which will start on Wednesday with preparations for the last two European Championship qualifying matches. He will train with the team of national coach Erwin van de Looi on Wednesday, before joining the great Orange on Thursday.
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