Xavi conducted thorough research on Kluivert: 'He spoke with my former coaches'

Kluivert reflects on his World Cup penalty miss and new start under Xavi, who thoroughly vetted him by speaking with his former coaches.

Justin Kluivert has moved past the pain of his missed penalty in the World Cup quarter-final against Morocco, which knocked the Netherlands out of the tournament. He came on specifically for the shootout and struck the left corner with conviction, but Yassine Bounou's positioning meant the ball hit the post. "That gnawed at me," Kluivert admits.

The arrival of new Netherlands coach Xavi has helped him turn the page. "It's a fresh start," Kluivert says. The Spanish manager conducted thorough background checks, speaking with Kluivert's former coaches to understand who he was dealing with. "Fortunately they were charmed by me, which worked out well.

Hopefully Xavi will be too," Kluivert laughs. He praised Xavi's diligence, noting the coach watches many matches and is genuinely invested in the team's development.

Kluivert, now 27 and in his third season at Bournemouth, has evolved from a freelancing winger into a mature attacking midfielder in the Premier League. He has never scored in 14 international appearances, which frustrates him—he acknowledges he's had three clear chances that should have gone in.

He sees Bournemouth as a stepping stone rather than his final destination, focusing on performing well this season and letting his future unfold naturally.