Coach-in-waiting Verbeek talks and Adelaide United hides

Adelaide United’s reluctance in claiming whether Gertjan Verbeek is a coaching candidate is getting weird.

• Verbeek has Robben on wishlist
• Is Victory about to pounce on ex-Reds’ coach Kurz?

Adelaide United is gaining global recognition – but it’s getting weirder by the day as media-savvy Dutchman Gertjan Verbeek starts talking about a potential new Reds’ signing Arjen Robben.

Verbeek is an articulate, genuine gentleman – he’s not the mystery on this occasion.

A five-minute conversation with him over WhatsApp proved that he is his own man, a polite, no-nonsense straight-shooter, so he must be given every chance to succeed when he starts his new coaching gig.

Verbeek spoke freely about his intricate knowledge of Adelaide and what the job means to him after a storeyed coaching career in the Netherlands. After that WhatsApp exchange, Adelaide’s pending new coach has for 14 days talked up the prospects of being the boss through his job on Fox Sports Netherlands.

What he is saying is priceless on popular TV football show That Was The Weekend.

Verbeek is one of the show’s knowledgeable experts.

He would certainly have very open and clear communication with some of the best players, at least in the Dutch football world, and unlimited access to many resources – some gratis, others the club would need to pay for.

Bayern Munich's Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben and defender Rafinha celebrate with the Bundesliga trophy after a 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Picture: John MacDougall/AFP

Why else would Verbeek claim that if Adelaide wanted to sign Robben under his watch, it would need big bucks? “Then the budget must be tripled,” he said on Fox Sports Netherlands yesterday.

That comment drew worldwide attention on credible news sites and social media.

Adelaide United and Robben being talked about in the same sentence on a reputable TV station by a proven coach is an absolute rarity.

Robben, 35, is one of the most revered Dutch gladiators of the modern era, reportedly earning about $258,000 a week, close to $13.5 million a year before his decade-long association with Bayern Munich ends next month.

But perhaps the Reds can afford him. Perhaps they were waiting to appoint their new coach before handing over a budget of more than $8 million a season, which Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and City would be proud of.

At the other end of the spectrum, there is talk that Reds’ skipper Isaias could be on his way to a Qatari club, which would probably concern Verbeek much more than trying to land a diamond such as Robben.

Adelaide United’s Isaias after the semi final loss to Perth Glory at HBF Park. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty

Qatari football officials have not confirmed the speculation but if Isaias does leave for a transfer fee reportedly worth about $1 million, Verbeek could lose a conduit to the entire Reds players’ operation.

Business is business but Verbeek wouldn’t be able to put a price on the captain.

Isaias has been a leader, an example for every boss since 2013 under coaches Josep Gombau, Guillermo Amor and outgoing German Marc Kurz.

They needed a wise head such as Isaias in the ranks to sell their vision to the troops.

However, as Verbeek continues to tell the public he is the only coaching candidate to replace popular Kurz, Adelaide officials have bunkered down and aren’t prepared to make any comment.

Here we are a fortnight after Verbeek made the revelation about the Reds’ gig and now the topic of conversation is not about whether he has got the job but about player signings for the new season.

Ultimately, that is the next stage of any new coach who wins a job across the world of professional football. You can’t make this stuff up.