Rafael van der Vaart: Messi, Maguire, Kane and Werner among nine players he has savaged

Rafael van der Vaart enjoyed a great career as a professional footballer.

The Dutchman played for the likes of Ajax, Real Madrid and Tottenham before hanging up his boots in 2018.

Van der Vaart decided to remain in football as he became a pundit. He has worked in England for Sky Sports and regularly appears on TV in his native country.

He’s developed a reputation for saying exactly what he thinks. He has no filter.

For that reason, he may well be the most brutal pundit in football in the present day.

As Van der Vaart celebrates his 39th birthday, we’ve listed nine times he was particularly savage when working as a pundit.

Harry Maguire

Van der Vaart is Maguire’s biggest critic in the world. There is no doubt about it. He’s gone on countless rants about the United defender in the past.

“When I go to see an amateur club on Sunday, I can find three players who can play like him (Maguire). I mean that,” claimed Van der Vaart in 2019.

“We are talking about a €90 million (£80 million) signing here. (If Maguire is worth €90 million) then Van Dijk is worth €300 million (£258 million).”

In an appearance on Ziggo Sport in November 2021, Van der Vaart also called Maguire ‘really s***’.

He also said Maguire was the worst player in England’s Nations League campaign in 2019.

Van der Vaart talking about Harry Maguire on live TV