There was almost a sense of inevitability as the former Rangers favourite stood over a dead ball, around 25 yards out.
And, sure enough, the celebrations could begin only a few seconds later.
PSV Eindhoven paid a club-record £13 million fee to sign Malik Tillman on a permanent basis from Bayern Munich over the summer – the Eredivisie champions succeeding where Rangers could not when tying up a deal for the America international – and flashes of supreme individual talent like this goes some way to repaying that eye-watering investment.
Malik Tillman whipped his free-kick up and over the wall, and perfectly into the postage stamp. The Fortuna Sittard goalkeeper could do nothing but watch. Helpless and rooted to the spot.
That was the former Rangers loanee’s fourth goal in eight league appearances so far in 2023/24.
Tillman is nearly halfway to matching his tally from the entirety of last season before the pumpkins are even carved.
And, according to former PSV ace Kenneth Perez, there is nobody in Dutch football who can rival Tillman right now. Not Golden Boot holder Luuk de Jong. Not Joey Veerman, the midfielder likened to Toni Kroos once on Rangers’ radar.
Former Rangers star Malik Tillman now the best in the Eredivisie
“He is someone who just does the right things with the ball,” Perez argues. “Who is better than Tillman in the Eredivisie? I don’t see anyone.
“I think he is a really complete player. In terms of thinking, I think he is one of the fastest and, in terms of technique, one of the very best. Tillman almost always has a solution, and he is not slow either.
“He has acceleration with the ball.”
Tillman was a big hit during his spell at Rangers during the 2022/23 season.
The Glasgow giants had the option to sign the German-born 22-year-old on a permanent basis themselves, only for Bayern to buy themselves out of that agreement and send Tillman to PSV instead.
A decision which, although it does little to benefit Rangers, certainly worked out well for Bayern. PSV eventually stumped up twice as much for Tillman as Philippe Clement’s side were due to pay.
Juventus now keen as Tillman shows his ‘incredible talent’
Tillman has even been linked with Serie A giants Juventus recently. A move that would see him link up with fellow Americans Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah at the Allianz Stadium.
“When you see Malik, the development he has undergone as a player, but also as a person…” Earnest Stewart, PSV’s technical director, told reporters over the summer.
“Of course, I knew Malik a little earlier from the American national team. He is a very quiet boy. At the beginning of the season, you had to get the words out (of him), and he is now doing interviews. He has developed as a person and that is reflected on the field.
“I think he is an incredible talent. What he can do, what he sees, also scoring ability and creativity. And what is not often noticeable, but the number of balls he recaptures on the field is truly unprecedented as an attacking player.
“Malik is really a great talent. We are very happy that he will stay at PSV even longer.”
Rangers wanted Tillman’s fellow PSV star Couhaib Driouech in the off-season too, the winger confirming that he snubbed a move to Scotland in favour of the Dutch champions.
