Friday, April 30, 2021 at 11:51 PM• Rian Rosendaal

Splinter de Mooij is no longer a professional football player. The nineteen-year-old midfielder from Feyenoord announced on his Instagram page on Friday that he prefers training as a doctor, which cannot be combined with a life as a football player. De Mooij has been part of Feyenoord’s youth academy since mid-2013. In 2018 he signed a three-year contract in De Kuip, but there will be no breakthrough in Rotterdam. The youth product never came out in the main body of the club.

“When I was scouted by Feyenoord in 2013 and later signed my first professional contract, my dream to become a professional footballer came true”, De Mooij writes in his post on Instagram. “After seven great years at Feyenoord, I informed Feyenoord today that I will leave the club to make my second dream come true, namely to become a doctor. I will start my medical studies in September of this year.” The midfielder is especially grateful towards Feyenoord. “Thank you Feyenoord, the staff of Feyenoord Academy and Key Sports for the wonderful training and guidance that I have received from you. And for my teammates: thank you for the friendships and everything we have experienced together!”

Joshua Zirkzee, among others, responds via Instagram to De Mooij’s decision to prematurely say goodbye to his professional life. “Great man, good luck buddy”, says the Bayern Munich attacker, who is active for Parma on a rental basis, about the player he knows from their joint period in Rotterdam-South. Lutsharel Geertruida also respects the choice of the young Feyenoord player. “Success Splint.” There are also statements of support from Tahith Chong, Naoufal Bannis, Jordy Wehrmann and Wouter Burger, among others.

The reactions of Joshua Zirkzee and Lutsharel Geertruida, among others.