Premiership defenders beware – this will be the season Aberdeen attacker Vicente Besuijen lights up Scottish football.
The Dutch winger has already made a positive impact since signing from ADO Den Haag in January. But that was only a taste of what the 21-year-old is capable of.
The upcoming 2022-23 season in a reconstructed Dons side will be the main course.
Pittodrie legend Hans Gillhaus beguiled the Red Army and Scottish football with his sublime skills and goals from 1989 to 93.
Now Besuijen looks set to be the next Dutch attacking star to shine bright for the Dons.
I was fortunate enough to watch Aberdeen training sessions at their warm weather camp in Spain.
It wasn’t just the 30-degree temperature in Alicante that was scorching.
Besuijen was red hot in the sessions I watched.
The Dutch play-maker netted a series of superb goals during training in Spain.
Besuijen curled in impressive goals from distance and was lightning fast.
He linked up play with incisive, quick passes and broke beyond defenders with power, pace and skill.
I came away from the La Finca resort in Spain convinced fans only saw a fraction of the winger’s potential in the second half of last season.
Now I expect him to explode into action in the Premiership and bring a vibrant attacking intent to the Reds.
If Besuijen can forge a strong partnership with new signing Bojan Miovski, it could spell danger for Premiership defences – and goals for the Dons.
🇳🇱 VB 🔟
The wee man at it again in training today. pic.twitter.com/ryCphUMyNs
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) July 2, 2022
The former Dutch youth international played 25 times last season for ADO Den Haag before transferring to Aberdeen.
In those appearances he netted six goals and provided 10 assists.
That’s 16 goals Besuijen was at the heart of in basically half a season before transferring to Pittodrie on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
Besuijen came into an Aberdeen team in January which was low in confidence and low in the Premiership table.
Within a month the manager who signed him, Stephen Glass, was axed.
Besuijen had to adapt to a new country, fresh footballing style and new manager in a season of upheaval, in an underperforming, under pressure team.
Despite that he still impressed with bursts of creativity.
He also pitched in with a superb goal on the half volley in the 3-1 defeat of Hibs.
That right footed strike scooped Aberdeen’s Goal of the Season award.
My time in Spain has convinced me that sensational goal is only the tip of the iceberg.
Besuijen has now had six months to adapt to the pace of the Premiership and the footballing style and philosophy of manager Jim Goodwin.
Aberdeen have also spent almost £1 million on transfer fees in the most extensive summer squad rebuild for years.
The outlay of fees to capture two players from MTK Budapest will be key to the Besuijen shining.
Striker Miovski was signed for £535,000 and defensive midfielder Ylber Ramadani secured for £100,000 from the Hungarian club.
Both are established internationals, Miovski with North Macedonia and Ramadani with Albania.
As a striker, Miovski likes to link up with wingers or fellow attackers with slick passing to open up play and create, then convert, chances.
If Miovski and Besuijen can forge a partnership and understanding they could rip defences apart.
Ramadani will bring control to the heart of the team. He will be able to dictate the pace and act as an extra level of protection for the defence.
A no-nonsense, calm leader who will string simple, effective passes together, Ramadani will be the ice in the Dons to the fire of Besuijen and Miovski.
Ramadani will bring the granite and stability which will allow players like Besuijen and Miovski the freedom to express themselves creatively.
Dons boss Goodwin has made six signings so far as part of his ongoing summer rebuild.
Up to four more signings could be added.
But Besuijen, who was already in the building when Goodwin arrived, will be vital to the new-look Dons’ bid for success.
🇳🇱 VB 🔟
👏 Vinnie. pic.twitter.com/X9EvR5NXIw
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) June 28, 2022
Early statement needed from Dons
Aberdeen’s pre-season preparations end tonight with a friendly against Highland League Brechin City at Glebe Park.
The Reds have been back in training for more than three weeks and were put through their paces at a camp in Spain.
After tonight’s friendly, it is down to business for Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin’s new-look side.
With six new signings on board at an expense of almost £1 million in transfer fees, there is much anticipation from the Red Army.
Aberdeen will be under the microscope in the season opener away to League One Peterhead in the Premier Sports Cup on Sunday.
The Blue Toon will be fired up to secure a shock result.
Aberdeen must be equally determined to get the first full season under Goodwin off to a winning start.
The Premier Sports Cup is not an extension of the pre-season, which offers a chance to experiment and bed in new signings.
It is a major competition that offers Aberdeen the opportunity to win silverware for the first time since the League Cup in 2014.
Aberdeen need to start the season with a bang to build early momentum for the squad.
There cannot be any slip-ups at Balmoor to throw an early spanner into the works of a rebuild that has brought real optimism to the fan base.
This rebuilt Aberdeen side will be expected to top a group which also includes Raith Rovers, Stirling Albion and Dumbarton.
The first step will be triumphing in what will be a tough battle at Balmoor.
It is the maiden outing of the new season and needs to be a winning one.
Jack Milne – next Aberdeen rising star?
Aberdeen are right to move quickly to tie up their hottest young talent on extended contracts.
Hot on the heels of opening up talks with Connor Barron on a longer deal, the Reds also aim to secure Jack Milne’s long term future.
Dons boss Jim Goodwin rates centre-back Milne very highly and is keen to secure the 19-year-old on a longer deal.
Milne impressed in the 2-1 friendly defeat of Buckie Thistle and also in the week-long training camp in Spain.
The hope is he will follow in the footsteps of Barron, Calvin Ramsay and Jack MacKenzie in being the next youth academy graduate to make an impact.
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