Feyenoord sporting director Djevey Rigaux reflected on Givairo Geertruida's situation this summer. The right-back was once a clear target for Roma, who were prepared to pay a significant transfer fee. However, the two clubs could never agree. Rigaux now explains that after Jordan Bos's injury, he did not want to lose another important full-back.

"Givairo Geertruida is an extremely talented player, and he's very important on the field for Feyenoord," Rigaux began. "He proved that last season too. After Jordan Bos was injured during the World Cup, we couldn't lose two full-backs in one season. They were both extremely important for Feyenoord last season."

Bos suffered a knee injury during the World Cup, and the left-back has undergone surgery, with an expected absence of several more months. Like Bos on the left, Geertruida is equally important on the right side of Feyenoord's defence. Despite Geertruida also being plagued by injuries last season, Roma still highly rated him. Reports indicate that Roma's €25 million offer was deemed insufficient, after which Roma turned their attention to Molina.

"We also consider age and how much room a player like that still has for development," Rigaux said when speaking about the 20-year-old Geertruida. "I'm very sure he still has room to improve, and he says so himself. He didn't come to me and say: 'I'm leaving no matter what.'"

"He said: 'If you can reach an agreement with a club, I'm willing to seriously consider it, and then I might want to take that step. But if not, I'll be happy to stay at Feyenoord.' When you hear a player say that, you realize even more that these players genuinely love playing for Feyenoord. These are the kind of players fans will specifically come to watch."

"But they are also the players we believe are necessary to achieve success in the future. I am very proud and happy with Givairo's performance; he acted like a true professional. He also proved that Feyenoord holds a high place in his heart. I truly believe that this deserves to be cherished," Rigaux concluded.

Geertruida's contract with Feyenoord runs until mid-2029, meaning the club could still receive a significant transfer fee from him in future transfer windows. The right-footed player joined from Volendam in 2023, and Volendam received approximately €200,000 less than expected due to an error. To date, Geertruida has played 58 official matches for Feyenoord, scoring 5 goals and providing 12 assists.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com