SOON after his arrival at Old Trafford five years ago, Ruud van Nistelrooy went out and bought a book charting the official history of Manchester United.
Whether Dirk Kuyt plumps for one on Liverpool after his £9 million move from Feyenoord remains to be seen, but the Holland forward could do a lot worse than emulate Van Nistelrooy’s achievements on the pitch, even if he will hope to avoid becoming history in England like his countryman.
It will be no simple task. Indeed, comparisons with Van Nistelrooy are a burden that every high-profile Dutch striker moving to the Barclays Premiership is now likely to encounter until one betters his record of 150 goals in 219 appearances for United.
Kuyt discovered exactly that yesterday when he was asked to answer a raft of questions about Van Nistelrooy upon his unveiling as Liverpool’s sixth summer signing at the club’s Melwood training headquarters.
“I’m a different player than Van Nistelrooy,” Liverpool’s new No 18 said. “He is a really top goalscorer. I scored a lot of goals in Holland, but I also made a lot, too.
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“Ruud is a big idol of mine and it is a shame he has left English football as I arrive, but if I can have a career here like him I will be very satisfied.”
A poor showing for Holland in the World Cup finals this summer suggest that Kuyt, 26, has yet to prove he can cut it at the top level, although Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, is hopeful that the player will be the final missing link in the club’s quest for a first league title since 1990.
Kuyt is likely to start on the bench for Liverpool’s opening Premiership game against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane this lunchtime.
But Benítez said: “He has the work rate, intelligence and scoring ability to succeed.”