Dumfries: “I've always been fired up"
Team
— Feb 17th 2022In the fourth episode of Careers the Dutch wing-back opens up about his life, time at Inter, and the most important stages of his career
MILAN - Family, football, experiences both on and off the pitch, Aruba, the Dutch national team, and Inter. These were just a few of the topics touched upon with Denzel Dumfries in the fourth episode of Careers, following those of Nicolo Barella, Lautaro Martinez and Joaquin Correa. The Dutchman looks over photographs which cover some of the most important parts of his life and fork-in-the-road moments in his career.
All DAZN subscribers can watch Careers or free from today on demand. Inter fans will also be able to view segments on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and the club's YouTube channel.
"It's a lovely photo. Those are my brothers, the youngest one is now 20 years old, my older sister is 27 and then my little sister is 23. There are four of us;I love them very much. Those who know me know that I smile all day, I like to joke, have fun with my teammates, with my family.
"Away from football I never get angry, but I'm different from when I play. Ever since I was a child I said that I would become a professional footballer. There's no footballing pedigree in my family; my father didn't play and there's nobody in the extended family who reached a high level but I was born motivated and I gave all I had to make my dream come true."
"I played for Barendrecht in the Netherlands. This was a really special moment; I was 17 and I was called up to the Aruban national team. I accepted the call up but it was for a friendly so I could play without hindering my chances of featuring for the Netherlands further down the line. I played two friendlies and also scored; it was unforgettable for me."
"This is one of my former teams, Heerenveen. It was a momentous time for me because I'd flown the nest and was living on my own for the first time. I was two hours by car from Rotterdam so I wasn't unable to go home much.
"It was a really special period for me; I learnt how to be independent, take care of myself, and behave and think like a professional. While I only played there for a season I learnt so much about life.
"I was 18 when I went to Sparta Rotterdam. I was already of age, especially in a country like the Netherlands where careers usually start much earlier. I was a late bloomer but I was so hungry and keen to make everyone see what I was about. I did all I could every day to try to improve; it was an experience which gave me the motivation to drive myself forward in my career. I use this same motivation to this day; it's still very much a part of me."
"I destroyed Ivan Perisic in that game! Jokes aside, this was me at PSV, a club that's dear to me. I played there for three seasons and was even made captain. I faced Inter in my first campaign there and playing at the San Siro was amazing; all of us players were left speechless by the experience.
"I'm really grateful for my time at PSV, and during my time there I also made my debut for the Dutch national team."
"Playing for my country at EURO 2020 was really special and scoring twice was a big deal for me. It was a pivotal moment for me and I think that I really took a step up as a footballer. I then joined Inter after the tournament; it was a really special time for me."