Róbert Bozeník has rediscovered the joy of football. The attacker is rented out by Feyenoord this season to Fortuna Düsseldorf from the 2. Bundesliga and is happy there, he says in an interview with the Slovak Sport. Bozeník scored ten days ago as a basic player against SSV Jahn Regensburg (1-1) and came in as a substitute against FC Erzgebirge Aue (0-1 win) and FC Ingolstadt 04 (1-2 win).
After his goal against Regensburg, in his second game for his new club, Bozeník was voted man of the match by the supporters. “I feel very good. I am happy again,” says the attacker, who had no prospect of much playing time at Feyenoord. “I get more playing time and I was able to score almost immediately. I want to stay in shape and keep playing a lot. That’s the only way I can develop. It’s too early to say if it was a really good transfer, but the start is good. I came here to play.”
Initially, Feyenoord did not want to let Bozeník go, says the Slovak. He thinks the arrival of Arne Slot was a tipping point. “Shortly after the European Championship, when I returned to Rotterdam, there were several offers for me, for example from Russia and from Schalke 04. Feyenoord was clear and did not want to let me go. They said I was number one,” the 21 said. year-old attacker. “That’s what I focused on then. However, a new trainer came, after which I played one game in preparation and there was never really a new chance.”
“I had substitutions of ten to fifteen minutes and I found that disappointing”, Bozeník looks back on the first weeks of the season. He refers, among other things, to substitutes against FC Luzern (17 minutes), Willem II (19 minutes) and IF Elfsborg (24 minutes). “I proposed to leave so I could play football again. I simply told them I was not happy anymore. At first they didn’t want to hear about it, but later they considered it and said they wouldn’t get in the way would lie.” He moved to Germany a day before the closing of the transfer market.
Is there a chance that Bozeník will stay with Fortuna for more than a year? “I don’t think so. There is an option to buy, but it can only be lifted if we promote to the Bundesliga,” says the international. “We’re all assuming I’ll only be here for a year. We’ll see what happens. Maybe there’ll be an offer in the winter that’s hard to refuse; maybe I’ll be here until summer. The present is for me most importantly. I just focus on getting better and playing regularly. I want to get back to my old form, that’s why I chose this.”
Director Uwe Klein of Fortuna reacts to BILD indicated, however, that there is ‘a contract with an option to buy, for both the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga’. The newspaper reports that the sum is ‘a small amount with seven numbers’. If it does come to a return to Feyenoord, Bozeník does not know what to expect. “I don’t look that far ahead yet. I want to do well at Fortuna. I am under contract with Feyenoord for another three years. I am in constant contact with the club. After every game I have contact with the assistant coaches, who ask about the match and also keep an eye on my performance and statistics. There is still a good relationship between us.”
“They paid a lot of money for me and didn’t want me to leave. Personally, I wanted to. If I succeed, it’s good for all parties. I can come back after a year as a better player and also be of value in Rotterdam”, thus the purchase of four million euros. Bozeník also has regular contact with striker trainer Robin van Persie of Feyenoord. “We spoke during the international match. He congratulated me on my goal against Slovenia (1-1) and was happy to see me pass a keeper like Jan Oblak. He also said that I did well in the game against Regensburg and congratulated me on my goal. It’s a shame I missed another chance after that.”