‘That raised red flags’ – Feyenoord reveal why Anis Hadj Moussa’s Saudi transfer fell through

Feyenoord general manager Robert Eenhoorn has explained why the Dutch club rejected a reported €42.5 million offer from Al Ittihad for Anis Hadj Moussa, revealing that the proposed payment structure raised serious concerns among the Rotterdam side’s management.

The Saudi Pro League club had reportedly moved to sign the Algerian winger before the transfer window closed, with Hadj Moussa also keen to leave Feyenoord.

However, the proposed deal collapsed on deadline day after Feyenoord requested a bank guarantee that Al Ittihad never provided, leaving the Dutch giants unwilling to proceed with the transfer.

Speaking to ESPN, Eenhoorn questioned the seriousness of the offer, pointing to the small proportion of the transfer fee that Al Ittihad intended to pay initially.

“In the first offer we received, the first term payment was 10 per cent of the total fee. That raised red flags,” Eenhoorn said.

“That’s why we asked for the bank guarantee, which never came. So that was never serious, if you asked me.”

Feyenoord demand financial assurances

The proposed €42.5 million transfer would reportedly have represented a club-record sale for Feyenoord, making the terms of the offer particularly significant for the Dutch side.

Despite the substantial overall figure, the club was concerned about receiving only 10 per cent of the fee in the first instalment. Feyenoord subsequently sought a bank guarantee to provide assurance that the remaining payments would be honoured.

According to Saudi media reports, Al Ittihad believed freezing the funds required for the guarantee was “impossible” after reaching the maximum amount they could offer for the winger.

The disagreement ultimately prevented the transfer from being completed, with Hadj Moussa remaining at Feyenoord despite his reported desire to move to Saudi Arabia.

The failed negotiations also highlighted the importance Feyenoord placed on the financial conditions accompanying a major transfer, rather than focusing solely on the headline fee.

‘If you have a Rembrandt and a Van Gogh…’

Hadj Moussa was not the only Feyenoord player who attracted interest before the transfer deadline.

Right-back Givairo Read was also reportedly close to leaving the club, with Italian side Roma linked with a move for the highly rated youngster.

However, Feyenoord were reluctant to part ways with Read, believing the defender still had an important role to play in the team’s development.

Eenhoorn explained that the club wanted Read to regain regular playing time before considering a departure, a decision that has since coincided with the youngster becoming a key figure.

“We felt that Read needed to play more matches again, that he still had more to give. You can see now that he’s playing a lot of matches and is a key player. He’s putting himself back in the spotlight. Ultimately, we simply couldn’t reach an agreement with the clubs,” Eenhoorn continued.

The Feyenoord chief also used an analogy involving two celebrated artists to explain the club’s position on retaining valuable players.

“If you have a Rembrandt and a Van Gogh hanging on your wall and you don’t sell them, they’ll still be hanging there. Their value on the market speaks for itself; I wouldn’t make too much of a fuss about it.”

Hadj Moussa and Read deliver for Feyenoord

The decision to retain both players has coincided with strong contributions from the pair as Feyenoord continue their Eredivisie campaign.

Hadj Moussa has registered five goals and one assist this season, underlining his attacking importance to the Rotterdam club.

Read has also made a significant contribution, providing five assists in nine league appearances as he continues to establish himself as an influential player.

Feyenoord currently sit at the top of the Eredivisie standings, with both players playing important roles in their campaign.

While the failed negotiations denied the club a potentially record-breaking sale, Eenhoorn’s comments make clear that Feyenoord were unwilling to compromise on the financial guarantees they considered necessary to complete the Hadj Moussa transfer.