Man Utd legend lavishes praise on 'very complete' Arsenal and Bayern target

Updated: 25 May 2024 15:37 BST
4 min read

Teun Koopmeiners, Xavi Simons, Denzel Dumfries, Arsenal, Bayern München — © IMAGO/FootballTransfers

Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy has waxed lyrical about Xavi Simons.

The RB Leipzig loanee is coming off a spectacular first season in the Bundesliga after joining the Saxons from PSG last summer. The Red Bulls are keen on extending their partnership for another season, while Bayern Munich are also trying to keep him in Germany.

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In England, Arsenal have been frequently associated with the Dutchman, while Barcelona want to re-sign their former La Masia product. Parent club PSG, meanwhile, have no intention to sell him this summer, but they will not stand in the way of another loan if the player expresses his desire to leave.

Simons wants to make a decision on his future before the start of Euro 2024 on June 14, but so far it is not yet known where he will work his magic next season. One thing is clear, though, the 21-year-old is ready to become a world-class player.

Van Nistelrooy on Simons

At least that is according to Dutch legend Ruud van Nistelrooy. The former Man Utd and Real Madrid striker coached Simons at PSV last year and believes that he was one of the standout performers in Europe in the bygone season.

Speaking to MARCA, Van Nistelrooy waxed lyrical about his compatriot: "Xavi Simons is in the spotlight, he is not a new discovery, but I think that he will continue to grow to a world-class level. I had him at PSV, now he is at Leipzig taking his next steps. I say that he is a player for a great team even as a starter."

"He has character, he is professional, he is focused on getting the most out of his potential. And then he has quality, he is very complete, he knows how to do many things well. He can dribble, he scores goals, he is great in transitions, he plays in small spaces. I see him as very complete."