"Van Basten spoke to the squad before the Under-21 Championships and said it would be best for players to stay in Holland if they wanted to go to Euro 2008," said the new Liverpool winger.
"But if I'm honest his words did not even enter my mind when Liverpool said they wanted to sign me.
"I spoke to Rafa Benitez and I have enough confidence in my own ability to believe I will play enough games for Liverpool to convince van Basten and go to the finals."