Albion new-boy Gianni Zuiverloon today admitted that he agonised over the Olympics trip that will rule him out of the start of the Premier League season.
But the Dutch full-back is heading to China for next month’s games - and he has his sights on a medal.
Zuiverloon checked in with the Baggies last week in a £3.2 million transfer from Dutch side Heerenveen and has spent the last week training with his new team mates.
But he will miss next week’s pre-season tour of Holland and Germany and the rest of Albion’s warm-up matches and will be unavailable for club action until at least the second week of the season.
Zuiverloon said: “It was a tough decision because I am definitely going to miss the first game at Arsenal and I would have loved to have played.
“But you only get one chance in your life to go to the Olympics and it was something I couldn’t miss.”
“We have a good team with some good players and we will be going all out for the medal in Beijing. Managers always say you shouldn’t change a winning team so if the lads do well while I am away then I will have to fight for my place when I get back.”
Zuiverloon, who was officially unveiled as an Albion player at a press conference this morning, revealed he turned down interest from other Premier League clubs to sign for Albion.
Arsenal, who will provide Albion’s opposition on the opening day of the season, were among the clubs rumoured to have shown an interest.
Zuiverloon: “My manager in Holland told me that other teams were interested but I wanted to come here.
“I like the way this team tries to play football and being here should give me more chance to play matches. I’m 21 years old and I want to get better and the only way I will do that is by playing games.”
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