Tag: FC Twente

by Tarcísio Neri

Gijs Smal comments on his departure from FC Twente at the end of this season

Gijs Smal has not yet confirmed his move to Feyenoord, but it is clear that the 26-year-old left-back will leave FC Twente at the end of this season. After the Eredivisie match against Sparta Rotterdam, he explained why.

Dutch media have already reported that he had reached an agreement with Feyenoord about moving to Rotterdam next season. The defender himself has not yet wanted to confirm an agreement. He also hoped that the news would not leak out.

“There was contact from Feyenoord, but there was also contact from other clubs. Nothing has been signed yet” said Gijs Smal.

Even so, FC Twente fans sang for him on Saturday during the match against Sparta Rotterdam. After all, Gijs Smal’s departure didn’t yield a single cent for the Enschede club. The full-back, who joined from FC Volendam in 2020, could have extended his contract with the Tukkers, but decided to leave the club.

According to Gijs Smal, money is not the reason.

“This does not bother me. After my career I can also earn money. I came here for free, but I didn’t receive any fees either. And I still have a contract here that you can say: it’s not that special. It has never been renewed since I arrived here, but that is not the problem” commented Gijs Smal.

FC Twente waited a long time with an offer and when it arrived at the start of the season, Gijs Smal wanted to wait for the transfer window.

“This was not what it should have been. I only heard something again in December. But we also hear about other clubs that are interested, because as an almost free player, you become interesting” said Gijs Smal.

Gijs Smal held back again.

“If something good comes along, something that I think could be a step forward, then you want to see if you can reach a higher level. Not because of the money, but because I want to look back on my career later and be able to say I made the most of it. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith” concluded Gijs Smal.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Feyenoord close to announcing the signing of Gijs Smal

Feyenoord is already starting to think about forming its squad for next season and the Rotterdam club is very close to announcing the signing of Gijs Smal. The 26-year-old full-back, who belongs to FC Twente, will not renew his contract with the Tukkers and will be free at the end of this season.

Gijs Smal will arrive to replace Marcos López. The 24-year-old Peruvian will leave Feyenoord at the end of this season, after spending two seasons wearing the Stadionclub shirt.

Gijs Smal, born in De Rijp, left FC Volendam and signed for FC Twente for free at the start of the 2020/21 season. He was an important player at Enschede, especially last season. In 34 Eredivisie appearances, he scored two goals and provided ten assists. This season, he has just one assist in 16 games.

FC Twente wanted to keep Gijs Smal at the club, but were unable to reach an agreement on renewing his contract.

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by Tarcísio Neri

FC Twente announces reinforcement for the defensive system

FC Twente have announced the signing of Alec Van Hoorenbeeck. The 24-year-old defender stays until the end of this current season and should return to KV Mechelen in Belgium, the club to which he belongs. This is his return to the Netherlands, considering that in the 2020/21 season, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck was loaned to Helmond Sport of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.

With the shirt of KV Mechelen, he played 55 games and did not score a single goal. At Helmond Sport, he played 39 games and scored three goals. He joins FC Twente with an option to buy at the end of his loan.

“We had been looking for a defender to play on the left for some time and with the arrival of Alec Van Hoorenbeeck we filled that gap. He also plays as a left winger. Alec Van Hoorenbeeck is comfortable with the ball at his feet, is quick and has good stature. We are sure that he will quickly adapt to the club and to Dutch football” said FC Twente Director Arnold Bruggink.

The last time FC Twente had a Belgian in its squad was between 2017 and 2020, when Jorn Brondeel left Belgium’s Lierse SK and played only 21 games during that period. In August 2020, he was released and signed for Willem II. And the last time KV Mechelen sent a player to FC Twente was in the 1999/00 season, when Jan Verlinden was sold to the Enschede club.

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