Twente’s captain is Premier League flop who was as soon as dubbed ‘worst signing ever’
Say the name Ricky van Wolfswinkel to a Norwich fan and it might send a shiver down their spine.
It’s almost spooky seaso, and fans from East Anglia could be in for an early fright if they scan over FC Twente’s starting side. The Dutch side are on these shores for a Europa League clash with Manchester United on Wednesday evening.
Van Wolfswinkel was earmarked for the very top from a young age in the Netherlands – as he emerged through the Vitesse Arnhem academy before moving onto Utrecht. However, it was after a move to Portugal he garnered international attention.
READ MORE: Ex-Man Utd coach made history at Twente but cringe ‘Dutch’ accent unforgettable
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The youngster netted an impressive 45 goals in 88 appearances for Sporting Lisbon – earning him a move to Carrow Road.
After scoring the equaliser on his Norwich debut in a 2-2 draw against Everton, Norwich fans thought that they had landed the jackpot after an £8.5million fee was paid for the striker.
(Image: Getty Images)
However, that would be his only goal for the club after Norwich were relegated and he would spend the next two seasons out on loan before finally leaving the club in 2016.
It’s a miracle Van Wolfswinkel is still playing, after he discovered that he had a brain aneurysm after undergoing scans for a concussion that he picked up while playing for Swiss side Basel.
“It was all a bit unclear really, like maybe it would keep me out for a couple of months, maybe three months or whatever,” he told The Mirror.
(Image: PA)
“It turned out to be six months, but then they were talking about two years…When you hear that, and you have to think about no football for two years, you automatically start thinking that your career is done.
“Luckily, that wasn’t the case for me. It took me 10 months to get back – but then the pandemic came directly after that, so the league was out. I was just training when I eventually came back, but I was just happy and proud to be back doing what I love doing the most.”
