Anis Hadj Moussa’s Feyenoord future in doubt as Saudi offer reaches €37m

Anis Hadj Moussa’s position at Feyenoord has become increasingly uncertain after the Algeria forward missed the match against NEC Nijmegen amid his determination to move to the Saudi Pro League.

A Saudi club has reportedly increased its offer for the 24-year-old to €37m, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo. However, Feyenoord are understood to be demanding an even higher fee before considering the player’s departure.

Hadj Moussa has become one of Feyenoord’s most important attacking players since Japan forward Ayase Ueda moved to Lille. But the significant difference between his current salary in the Netherlands and the package available to him in Saudi Arabia is believed to be central to his desire to leave.

Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst had attempted to play down concerns about the situation before the NEC Nijmegen fixture. He indicated that Hadj Moussa had not expressed a wish to depart, but the forward’s subsequent absence has brought the dispute back into focus and highlighted the uncertainty surrounding his future.

The two men are understood to have spoken several hours before the game. During that conversation, Van Bronckhorst told Hadj Moussa that he did not want to take part, after the player had maintained his position and insisted that he wanted to travel to Saudi Arabia to complete a transfer.

Family pressure is also thought to have influenced Hadj Moussa’s stance. The financial gap between what he earns at Feyenoord and what he is expected to receive in the Saudi Pro League is considerable, strengthening his desire to secure a move.

Feyenoord, though, do not appear ready to release him without a substantial return. Even after the Saudi club raised its proposal to €37m, the Dutch side are holding out for a larger payment, leaving negotiations unresolved and threatening to prolong the dispute over the coming days.

The situation has also cast doubt on Hadj Moussa’s immediate involvement with Feyenoord. His participation in the upcoming meeting with Barcelona is now considered unlikely while the disagreement remains unsettled.

The continued availability of the summer transfer window in Saudi Arabia gives both the player and the interested club additional time to try to reach an agreement. That extended period could allow negotiations to continue, but it also leaves Feyenoord facing a difficult decision over whether to retain a key attacking player who appears determined to leave.

For now, Hadj Moussa’s future remains unclear, with the Saudi offer putting further pressure on Feyenoord and intensifying the internal uncertainty before the Barcelona fixture.