Giovanni van Bronckhorst has deployed an unconventional lineup for Feyenoord's away fixture at NEC, forced to reorganise his attacking formation after Anis Hadj Moussa was omitted from the matchday squad entirely. The Algerian winger's absence stems from disciplinary issues surrounding his protracted transfer saga to Saudi Arabia's Ittihad Club, creating a tactical puzzle for the Rotterdam manager just hours before kickoff on Saturday afternoon.
Hadj Moussa failed to board the team bus to Nijmegen and subsequently returned home, leaving Van Bronckhorst to recalibrate his forward line. The squad reshuffle involves several positional adjustments across the attacking third. Nacho Ferri fills the central striker role vacated by Ayase Ueda's recent departure to Lille, while Gaoussou Diarra shifts to the right wing—a position originally earmarked for the absent Hadj Moussa. Luciano Valente operates on the left flank, with Gjivay Zechiël elevated into an attacking midfield berth as the number ten.
Transfer Turmoil Disrupts Selection
The chaos reflects the fractured relationship between club and player. Ittihad submitted a €37.5 million bid on Friday to secure Hadj Moussa's services, and the 24-year-old reportedly expressed enthusiasm for the Saudi Arabia move. Feyenoord's hierarchy, however, rejected cooperation on any deal, creating tension that boiled over into this matchday absence. The decision illustrates the competitive pressure facing Eredivisie sides when managing high-profile assets during the transfer window.
In midfield, Van Bronckhorst has retained continuity where possible. Charles Vanhoutte, Oussama Targhalline, and Zechiël form the spine, though Targhalline keeps his place despite a subdued display against ADO Den Haag. Defensively, Tjark Ernst starts in goal, supported by Givairo Read at right-back, Jeremiah St. Juste and Tsuyoshi Watanabe centrally, and Mika Mármol on the left.
Feyenoord's ability to absorb multiple absences—Ueda's departure and Hadj Moussa's disciplinary exile—while maintaining structural balance will be tested at De Goffert. The 4.30pm kickoff presents an immediate opportunity to demonstrate squad depth, though the improvised attacking unit faces familiar Eredivisie opposition without the creative spark Hadj Moussa's presence typically provides.
