World Cup
Valente eyes dream captaincy at Feyenoord after Wellenreuther's exit
Luciano Valente, the 22‑year‑old playmaker, admits he still does not know who will replace Timon Wellenreuther as Feyenoord captain after the goalkeeper’s move to VfL Wolfsburg, but says wearing the armband would be a dream. He expressed the sentiment in an interview with , noting his recent season dip but continued high regard among teammates.
Valente transferred from FC Groningen to Feyenoord last season and began his Rotterdam‑Zuid campaign with energy. The move was highlighted as a step forward in his career.
Later in the season his form dipped, yet he remained one of the most valued midfielders in the squad. Coaches and teammates still praised his contributions.
Goalkeeper and captain Timon Wellenreuther has left for VfL Wolfsburg, leaving the captaincy vacant. Trainer Giovanni van Bronckhorst now must select a new leader for Feyenoord.
"Would I be the most logical captain? I won’t say that. It would be a dream," Valente told when asked about the role. He emphasized that the decision rests with the coach.
"I am still a young player, but I have already played several matches in Europe and the Eredivisie. I am someone who leads the fight, so it could happen, though I won’t claim it is the obvious choice," he added.
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Earlier this summer Valente was close to a World Cup call‑up and attended a training camp in Zeist, but was subsequently dropped. "You eventually hear you are not going to the World Cup. That was a big blow. Every player dreams of the World Cup, but unfortunately I missed it," he said.
Valente also confirmed his support for the Dutch national team, saying, "I am a supporter of Oranje, and I hope they perform as well as possible."