The fact that Cyriel Dessers did not sign for a longer stay at Feyenoord last summer had nothing to do with a salary issue. That says the 28-year-old striker in the Friday morning General Journal. After an exciting season on loan at De Kuip, Dessers left KRC Genk for the Italian US Cremonese. The rumors were that the right leg bet on an exorbitant salary, but according to Dessers, that is not true. “That was not the case and that was not nice to hear,” said the four-time Nigerian international.
Conference League hero Dessers was very popular with Feyenoord supporters, who even collected money to keep him longer in De Kuip. The striker explains why a longer stay has not happened. “The fact that I could now also have become champion in Rotterdam is not an issue for me. That’s not how it went. There was a lump sum in my contract with Genk. It was never a question of: just put down that amount and I was owned by Feyenoord. It just wasn’t like that. That the club would probably have more budget later in the summer due to possible transfers, that is correct.”
Dessers then read strange stories on the internet. “At a certain point, the impression was given here and there that the whole transition was just about the salary I would like to earn. That I would be too high in the tree. That was not the case and that was not nice to hear. We have tried to look for solutions, but to no avail. I signed a contract in Italy and Feyenoord has also moved on. And impressively.” Dessers still closely follows his old club and enjoys all the positive developments from Italy.
“When they were honored on the Coolsingel, I didn’t think: suppose I had been standing there”, says Dessers. “I think so: what amazing. For the trainer, the players, the supporters and the club. Feyenoord is national champion and enters the Champions League. That makes me happy. It almost made me feel uncomfortable that the fans were so eager to keep me. It was too much honor. There was so much love expressed.” Where Dessers fights against relegation in Serie A with Cremonese, a new hero has now emerged in South Rotterdam: Santiago Giménez.
Dessers enjoys his Mexican successor. “Really a very good striker and he is still young. He can enter the Champions League with Feyenoord and defend the title in the Netherlands. There are still plenty of challenges ahead of him, although of course I don’t decide what that boy and Feyenoord should do. I left, but I’m 28 years old. When you are young, you can still be patient. Playing at Feyenoord is a great thing, I should know. And they deserved the title. Feyenoord was really the strongest this season. I say that as a football fan and as a supporter. Not as a striker of the club anymore, but that’s how things work. You can’t get hung up on that. Better to be under contract with Feyenoord for a year than not at all.”