De Vrij: I Want to Help Panathinaikos Return to the Top, the Team Already Has the Necessary Foundation

In an interview, De Vrij said that Panathinaikos returning to the top of Greek football was an important motivation behind his decision to join the club.

The centre-back, who joined from Inter Milan this summer, has now become Panathinaikos' new captain. The interview was published in the first issue of the club's new magazine, which was launched during the team's match against PAOK. De Vrij explained why he chose Panathinaikos: "I chose to play for Panathinaikos because I will have a very important role in the team. The club presented me with an exciting and challenging plan. After my initial conversations with Stefanos Kotsolis and Jakob Neestrup, I really wanted to be part of it. I have known Panathinaikos since I was young. It is the most important club in Greece. Its achievements in the Champions League, the matches against Ajax, and those great European nights have left a deep impression on me. For me, seeing it return to the top is a strong motivation. It is similar to when I joined Inter Milan, which is also one of the most important clubs in Italy; it also took many years there before winning the league title. This is a similar challenge."

Speaking about his relationship with Davide Calabria, De Vrij said: "We have built a very good relationship at Panathinaikos and share many experiences. We faced each other in Milan, playing for two major clubs, but there has always been great respect between us. Now being able to play together here is truly wonderful. We are also looking forward to the Greek derby. I like working with people with different personalities. We are both ourselves and fully accept each other, and that is the key in the dressing room. Our common goal is to achieve success this season."

De Vrij said: "The team already has the necessary foundation, but I also know that we still need to work and improve. I will do my utmost to bring victories and give my full commitment. As captain, my goal is to pass responsibility, composure and confidence to my teammates. I will remain humble, keep my feet on the ground and focus on our goals so that we can achieve the best results for the team. I want to be an example for my teammates. Wearing the captain's armband makes me very proud; it is an important responsibility and one I gladly accept. My commitment to Panathinaikos is to give everything in every match and always fight for the club's interests. The positive pressure I feel at Panathinaikos is very valuable at this stage of my career. I want to give everything because I care deeply about what I do."

Speaking about the new Votanikos stadium, De Vrij said: "I have already visited the facilities of the new stadium. It is a great project and I cannot wait to play there. I believe it will bring a lot to both the team and the fans. I am really looking forward to it. Honestly, if my name could be associated with Panathinaikos returning to the top, it would mean a great deal to me."