TOTTENHAM’s 27m new boy Steven Bergwijn announced himself to Spurs fans with a stunning strike on his debut against Manchester City.
And the Dutch forward will be looking to continue his scoring streak when the North London giants lock horns with Southampton in a FA Cup Fourth Round replay Wednesday night.
One attribute that stood out in the 2-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s side was 22-year-old Bergwijn’s close control when under pressure.
It’s a skill he can thank his dedicated dad for, who religiously tossed balls high up in the air for his young son to try and bring down instantly.
The fleet-forward wide man is also no stranger to living the high-life, driving top-of-range Mercedes cars and dating a glamorous missus.
But he had to work hard to achieve his dreams of earning a Premier League move.
He comes from a loving family – and two years ago shared a cheeky photo on Instagram of himself as a kid with a can of Heineken.
CRUYFF COURT
When Bergwijn was just seven, his early promise saw him scouted by Ajax.
After training, he would make his way home to Almere – some 18 miles form Amsterdam and head straight to Cruyff Court.
At the tiny turf pitch, he would be joined by Surinam-born dad Jurgen, who would put his boy through his paces.
“Hed toss the ball up in the air, like, way, way, waaaay up and Id have to bring it down under control in different ways,” Bergwijn told The Players’ Tribune.
“Sometimes on my chest, sometimes with my feet. Because I was a bit smaller than the other kids, my dad knew that winning the ball in the air wasnt going to be easy for me.
“So hed toss it up, and Id bring it down. Over and over and over again.”
A FATHER’S SACRIFICE
At the age of 13 Bergwijn moved to PSV after falling out with an Ajax coach, and the aspiring footballer became even more reliant upon his dad.
Jurgen Bergwijn would drive nearly two hours to get his son to Eindhoven, sleep in the academy’s car park, then drive Steven back.
“When I left Ajax at 13 years old to play with PSV, my dad became the only way I could get to Eindhoven to train with my new club,” he said.
“Every weekday, wed wake up at 5:30 a.m, eat breakfast, get in the car, and drive an hour and 45 minutes to Eindhoven for a 9:00 a.m training session.
“Id do all the things my dad taught me on the pitch while, about 200 yards away, he slept in the car in the parking lot. Then Id come over, knock on the glass, and wed drive all the way back and Id go to school.
“We did that for nearly two years. Two years.
“That was the sacrifice my dad, and my whole family my mom, sister and brother made for me.
“Theyd make that drive, too, to come watch games and support me whenever they could.
“Eventually we moved to Eindhoven and the commute became a lot shorter, and the sleeping in the car finally stopped.”
BECOMING A PRO BRINGS ITS TRAPPINGS
Bergwijn was an established player in the PSV team by the age of 18.
And soon he began to enjoy the trappings of what being a top-class footballer brings.
While he doesn’t boast a Neymar-like entourage, he does like his cars.
His preferred choice of motor is Mercedes, and he’s been seen behind the wheel of a AMG GLE 63 worth around 120,000.
Recently, Bergwijn also added a G Wagon to his car collection that has a starting price of around 93,000.
Both cars won’t look out of place in North London’s poshest abodes, where the Tottenham and Arsenal’s football elite reside.
A GIRL CALLED CHLOE
Bergwijn has reportedly been in a romance with stunning 21-year-old Chloe Jay since 2015.
The fashionable Wag is a dancer, model and social media influencer with over 50,000 followers on Instagram.
She often shares snippets of her life online to fans, whether it’s onboard a private yacht in a glamorous holiday setting or getting ready to dine in a posh restaurant – she’s got the art of being a Wag down to a tee.
And shortly after Christmas, Chloe stunned fans when she revealed she was expecting the pair’s first child together – a baby boy.
They even threw a special party with their loved ones to celebrate the good news.
View this post on InstagramAs many of you know im pregnant and expecting a little baby boy, I have not shared much about it yet, there are many reasons for that. I find it difficult to share things about my private life because everyone has their opinion, and not everyone always has the best intentions. I have also been sick and having a hard time that is why I try to find my rest as much as possible. Thats the reason why I have been so absent lately. I hope you guys respect that, I am working on myself to becoming the best mom I can be. I want to thank you all for the sweet messages and the support you always give me. Very grateful for that. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and you are coming to bright up my/our life
. After 4 years we are blessed with a mini us. Special thanks to our family & friends, you guys are the best. We can't wait to meet you, love you already big bosss
