Not everyone has understood that Cyriel Dessers has become an important player at Feyenoord. Julio Ricardo Cruz, the attack leader of the Rotterdam club between 1997 and 2000, does not know the Belgian striker, according to a video interview with Football International† The former attacker from Argentina admits that he no longer follows Feyenoord closely more than two decades after his departure.
Cruz is asked if he is a fan of Dessers, whom he apparently does not know as a player. “Is that something on Netflix?” asks the former Feyenoord player right away. He is immediately explained which player from his old employer is involved. “Oh haha. Sorry, I didn’t know you meant him. You know, I don’t know all the names of the guys who now play at Feyenoord. But that applies to me in a general sense in the football world. If you ask me : name eleven River Plate players, then I can’t do that anymore,” said the guilty Cruz.
Julio Ricardo Cruz admits that he does not know Cyriel Dessers well as a Feyenoord player.
“I know Marcos Senesi and Luis Sinisterra at Feyenoord, but you don’t have to test me further, haha. But Dessers yes, it is very nice that he scores so much in Europe. I will not forget his name so quickly, haha” , the former Argentine striker adds with a joke. Cruz thinks that Feyenoord has become more famous in Argentina. “I think so. Especially when Senesi plays with Feyenoord against Ajax with Lisandro Martínez and Nicolás Tagliafico, then there is attention for them in the media.”
Cruz is looking forward to Feyenoord’s double confrontation against Olympique Marseille in the semifinals of the Conference League, especially since the French’s compatriot Jorge Sampaoli is the trainer. “I hope for everyone at Feyenoord that they can make it a magical evening with the supporters in 1999, just like us.” At the time, the team from Rotterdam won 3-0 against Marseille in the group stage of the Champions League, partly thanks to two goals from Cruz.