‘He will follow him into the shower’ – Lionel Messi warned about ex-Middlesbrough ace as Argentina face Netherlands
FORMER Holland international Ruud Vormer has declared Marten de Roon has to start Friday's quarter-final against Argentina.
Vormer, 34, claimed the ex-Middlesbrough ace can man mark Lionel Messi to the extent of following him "into the shower";.
De Roon, now at Italian side Atalanta, has started Holland's last two games against Qatar and USA.
After beating the Americans in the last 16, Louis van Gaal's side have the daunting prospect of coming up against Messi for a place in the semis.
The Argentina skipper has looked unstoppable in Qatar so far.
Messi has scored three goals and provided one assist in four World Cup matches.
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But Vormer reckons De Roon, 31, has what it takes to mark Messi out of the game.
So much so the defensive midfielder would even follow Messi into the showers if needed.
Vormer told : "De Roon is a very task-oriented player.
"Ask him to follow Messi, and he will follow him, even into the shower if necessary."
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De Roon spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Middlesbrough in the Premier League.
He has been capped 34 times by Holland, but Messi and Co are likely to provide the toughest test of De Roon's international career.
Messi is desperate to lead Argentina to glory in his last World Cup.
The 35-year-old, who has never won football's biggest prize, revealed in October that the current tournament will be his last dance on the biggest stage.