GIVEN the stature of the some of the European super clubs to have shown an interest in Rav van den Berg over the past couple of years, it would have been very easy for the defender to have his head turned.

Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and Roma all, at one stage or another, made their interest known in the teenager.

But when it came to choosing his next step, van den Berg demonstrated maturity beyond his years and kept it simple.

His decision wasn't swayed by money or the chance to say he plays for one of the biggest clubs on the continent, rather he focused on what makes him happy - playing football; therefore he wanted to go a club where he believed he had the best opportunity of breaking into a first team and playing regularly.

At Boro, the 19-year-old appreciates he won't be walking straight into the team.

But after talks with Michael Carrick and Jonathan Woodgate - "both big influences in my decision", he says - van den Berg knows that if he impresses he'll get his chance, regardless of his age.

And although the Champions League tune won't be playing at the Riverside this coming season, as it will be at the home of some of the clubs who were keen on van den Berg, the defender is well aware of his new club's stature, history and potential.

He says: “It’s a really big club. If you look at the last 20-25 years, all that time in the Premier League. Yes, they're currently in the Championship, but I think it’s a really cool league for a young player to play a lot of games.

"That for me was one of the main reasons. And of course both of the gaffers here [Michael Carrick and Jonathan Woodgate] were big influences in my decision. Both of them in training look at what you’re doing and give tips and I think I can learn a lot from that. I signed here for four years, and I think those four years are going to be really good for me."

Since breaking through in his homeland, van den Berg has got used to transfer speculation over the past 18 months, but previously just got his head down and focused on his football.

This summer, as he moved into the final 12 months of his contract with PEC Zwolle, it became apparent that it was the right time for all parties for the defender to move on. Given the interest, deciding where to go would have been tough, you'd think. But, says van den Berg, that wasn't the case.

“I think, realistically, if I move to one of the big clubs then the chance I am going to play in the first team is not big," he says.

"Here, I know I have to prove myself first and I appreciate I won’t play every game because I am still young, but I know that if I perform well then I can get in the first 11 and stay there.

"That will ultimately be really good for me, and one of the many reasons why I chose this club over the big clubs.

"For me personally, I’m a football player and I want to play football. To go now to such a big club would not be the right decision. Playing football makes me happy, and I want to be happy. Playing will make me a better football player as well, and of course, I always want to be a better player. So it wasn’t a hard decision."

He also took on board the advice of his older brother Sepp, who plays for Liverpool but previously spent time on loan at Preston North End.

"My brother played in the Championship and when I talked with him he told me how much he grew in this league and learned about football," said Boro's summer recruit.

"He said to me, ‘Just do it. You will learn from it and be a better player from it’. At first he let me think about the decision myself because he didn’t want to make it for me. But after I told him I was going to Middlesbrough he told me I had made a really good decision.

"The Championship, he said, did quite a lot for him, and I’m happy to be here and hoping I experience the same."

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Van den Berg has been welcomed into the Boro dressing room with open arms and the early signs are telling him that he made the right decision, even if his first summer appearance for Boro at York City was a "strange" experience.

He says: "I’d been really looking forward to my first outing in a Middlesbrough shirt and it was really nice. It was certainly an experience. At first the sun was shining and then within a second it was just storm and rain. It was strange, but the game quickly restarted so it was alright.

"I think defensively it was alright but I do think my possession on the ball could have been better. But it was my first game and as I progress that should come easier.

“The lads are so warm and welcoming here. From the first minute I came in they were really nice to me, so that made it so much easier. It’s been wonderful so far, so I’m really happy."