Giovanni van Bronckhorst believes Anis Hadj Moussa will remain at Feyenoord despite renewed interest from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad. The Dutch coach confirmed he has held direct conversations with his striker about the transfer speculation and found no indication the player wants to leave.
Al-Ittihad returned on Friday with a second offer of €37.5 million for the Algerian forward, after Feyenoord rejected an initial bid of €30 million. Van Bronckhorst stated clearly: "I have not seen a player who bangs his fist on the table and has said that he absolutely wants to leave. That is not how he sees it."
Balancing Club Interests with Player Ambitions
The Feyenoord manager acknowledged the delicate balance clubs must strike between retaining key talent and accepting offers that strengthen their financial position. While he emphasized his expectation that Hadj Moussa stays, Van Bronckhorst recognized that decisions ultimately rest with the club's board rather than the coaching staff.
"We have to see the reality of that and we all do within Feyenoord, including the staff and players," Van Bronckhorst said at his media briefing at De Kuip. He added that exceptional figures could change the equation: "In the end, sums can also come in that a club cannot refuse."
Hadj Moussa's Impact on Feyenoord's Season
The 24-year-old has been instrumental to Feyenoord's campaign, contributing significantly in both goals and assists. This performance record explains why the club rejected Al-Ittihad's opening proposal. Feyenoord's recent sale of Ayase Ueda means retaining their creative attacking threat becomes even more critical for their competitive ambitions in the Eredivisie and European competitions.
Van Bronckhorst maintained a measured stance on the situation, neither ruling out a departure nor showing concern about losing his player. The club will decide whether the financial offer justifies parting with one of their most influential attacking talents heading into the remainder of the season.
