As the former favorite of the Rangers stood over a dead ball, around 25 yards out, there was almost an air of inevitable outcome. And sure enough, in just a few seconds, the festivities could start.
Flashes of incredible individual talent like this help to partially offset the eye-watering £13 million that PSV Eindhoven paid to sign Malik Tillman permanently from Bayern Munich over the summer. The Eredivisie champions succeeded where Rangers failed in securing a deal for the America international. Malik Tillman skillfully executed a free-kick that soared over the wall and neatly fit inside the postage stamp. The goalkeeper for Fortuna Sittard was forced to observe. Immobile and fixed in place. The former Rangers loanee’s goal was his fourth in eight league games played in 2023–2024.
Before the pumpkins are carved, Tillman is over halfway to matching his total from the whole previous season. And, according to former PSV ace Kenneth Perez, there is nobody in Dutch football who can rival Tillman right now. Not Luuk de Jong, winner of the Golden Boot. Not Joey Veerman, the midfield player on Rangers’ radar who was previously compared to Toni Kroos.
“I think he is a really complete player. In terms of thinking, I think he is one of the fastest and, in terms of technique, one of the very best. Tillman almost always has a solution, and he is not slow either.
“He has acceleration with the ball.”
Malik Tillman, a former Rangers star, is currently the best in the Eredivisie. Perez claims, “He is someone who just uses the ball in the right ways.” Who in the Eredivisie is superior to Tillman? Nobody is visible to me.
Tillman was a big hit during his spell at Rangers during the 2022/23 season.
The Glasgow giants had the option to sign the German-born 22-year-old on a permanent basis themselves, only for Bayern to buy themselves out of that agreement and send Tillman to PSV instead.
A decision which, although it does little to benefit Rangers, certainly worked out well for Bayern. PSV eventually stumped up twice as much for Tillman as Philippe Clement’s side were due to pay.
Juventus now keen as Tillman shows his ‘incredible talent’
Tillman has even been linked with Serie A giants Juventus recently. A move that would see him link up with fellow Americans Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah at the Allianz Stadium.
“When you see Malik, the development he has undergone as a player, but also as a person…” Earnest Stewart, PSV’s technical director, told reporters over the summer.
Of course, I knew Malik a little earlier from the American national team. He is a very quiet boy. At the beginning of the season, you had to get the words out (of him), and he is now doing interviews. He has developed as a person and that is reflected on the field.
“I think he is an incredible talent. What he’s capable of, what he observes, his inventiveness and scoring prowess. And although it’s not always apparent, as an attacking player, he genuinely records the most balls recaptured on the field. “Malik has a very remarkable gift. The fact that he will remain at PSV even longer makes us very delighted. In the off-season, Rangers also expressed interest in Couhaib Driouech, a standout player for PSV who, according to the winger, turned down a move to Scotland in favor of the Dutch champions.
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