Wesley Sneijder hits out at Cody Gakpo comparisons - 'I don't understand'

Wesley Sneijder has batted away claims that Cody Gakpo is like Arjen Robben . The Liverpool forward took on a similarly talismanic role for the Dutch at Euro 2024 , but the former Netherlands star does not think the two wingers are alike.

It was an excellent individual tournament for Gakpo before he suffered elimination at the hands of England in the semi-finals, and he's currently among a gaggle of contenders set to share the Golden Boot. Interestingly for new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot , the forward was at his best having been restored to the wide areas, after routinely playing through the middle in his Anfield career to date.

Unlike Robben in his pomp, Gakpo has been starting out on the left and cutting in on his right. But certain sections of the Dutch support have spotted a kind of inverted similarity to the former Bayern Munich great.

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However, Sneijder — who played with Robben at Real Madrid between 2007 and 2009, as well as featuring alongside him in the national team — has rejected those suggestions.

“I don’t understand it because they are two completely different players,” said Sneijder, via Soccer News . “Why do you have to compare them? It’s a different time. Other things are desired. People should stop making comparisons. People should just enjoy themselves."

And that wasn't the only emerging narrative that Sneijder felt the need to challenge. He also came to the defense of Memphis Depay, who attracted criticism for his Euros showings:

"Also, those discussions about Memphis Depay," Sneijder continued. "If he scores the winning one, he is suddenly the hero. In football it can all suddenly be different."

Liverpool.com says: All very philosophical from Sneijder, but the former midfielder has not been so quick to protect Virgil van Dijk from media backlash. It makes no sense to leap to the aid of Depay but allow the captain to continue taking pelters from a succession of players-turned-pundits.

When it comes to Gakpo, though, he makes a good point. There's no need for the Liverpool ace to be the "new Robben" or anybody else, and not only because they play on completely opposite flanks, with the only real similarity being a penchant for cutting inside.

As Sneijder says, Robben played in what has already become a different era of football. The exact same player now may not enjoy the same status, or else could be instructed to play in a wholly different way. It's a flattering comparison to a bona fide Dutch football great, but Gakpo deserves to be praised on his own merits.