28 April,2011 02:31 PM IST | | ANI
An 18-month-old Dutch toddler has been signed by his local champion's division football club, VVV-Venlo, after a video of him expertly kicking football balls into his toy box scored almost a million hits on YouTube.
According to Fox Sports, Baerke van der Meij became an Internet sensation after his father Jorg posted a film of the toddler shooting three balls into his toy box last week.
The startling accuracy and perfect technique hinted that little Baerke may have inherited the technique of Dutch masters of the past like Johan Cruyff and Dennis Bergkamp.
VVV Venlo, who play in the Netherlands' top football division, signed the prodigy up to a ten-year "token" contract. Baerke's grandfather had also played for the club.
"The toddler's favourite position has not yet been determined. But we can speak of a right-footed player with a very good kicking technique, perseverance and, importantly, football genes via his grandfather," the club said in a statement.
