Ruben Kluivert grows in stature with standout Monaco display

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·5 January 2026

Ruben Kluivert grows in stature with standout Monaco display

Ruben Kluivert’s blend of power and pace is beginning to tell for OL, highlighted by a composed, authoritative outing in Monaco.

At Louis-II he probably delivered his reference display for OL’s defence, snuffing out two big second-half chances for Balogun and Biereth. According to Le Progres, it formed part of a run of three increasingly convincing performances.

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That surge follows a bumpy October in which his first two starts, at Utrecht then Nice, were difficult.

Earlier in the autumn, OL were expected to hit turbulence across December and January, with the Africa Cup of Nations threatening to leave them short at centre-back.

An early return for Clinton Mata eased some of those concerns, although his restart on Saturday proved demanding against Balogun’s strength. It is clear Kluivert is improving quickly in a role that had troubled him in October.

Source: Le Progres