Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 12:18 pm• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 12:19

Mees Hilgers is flattered by the interest that Feyenoord has shown in him. Feyenoord Transfermarkt revealed at the beginning of December that the Rotterdammers had ‘an exploratory conversation’ with the center defender of FC Twente and that he is part of a so-called shadow list. It is good for Hilgers, who will face Feyenoord in the Grolsch Veste with Twente in the TOTO KNVB Cup on Wednesday evening, that a club of the caliber Feyenoord sees it in him.

“It’s nice when such a big club is interested,” Hilgers tells The Telegraph. “That is proof that you are doing well. But it is all still a long way off and I am also good at FC Twente, where I still have a long contract. I play almost everything and it is going well. Before the season I had I honestly didn’t expect this. I knew I would take the opportunity if I got it. I did. I love that I get so many minutes. I feel comfortable in the field. It’s not so that I have a lot of tension and pressure. I am a believer and I believe that a path has been laid for me. I just play freely and with confidence. I have always done that.”

Hilgers is experiencing his absolute breakthrough at FC Twente this season. The defender played in 15 Eredivisie matches, of which 13 times as a basic player. Last season, the counter was stuck at three appearances. “This trainer and the entire technical staff have an eye for the youth,” said Hilgers. “I have been with FC Twente for over nine years. They scouted me at Sparta Nijkerk. Before that I played at ASC Nieuwland in Amersfoort. When I was scouted by the KNVB, PEC Zwolle, Vitesse and FC Twente came. But because FC Twente had just become champions, the choice was easy for me. I drove up and down the A1 a lot, but I’ve been living in Enschede since I was sixteen.”

In addition to Feyenoord, Hilgers can also count on interest from the Indonesian association. The defender is the son of an Indian mother and can therefore represent the Asian country. “It remains to be seen what I will do with it. We are not going to make choices too quickly. There has been interest. I have received a letter. We are finding out how and what. I am still young. But I do have a connection with the country I have been there four times and have family there too, but whether I want to play football for Indonesia is a decision I will only make in the future.”