Feyenoord president Dennis te Kloese admits the Eredivisie giants have no hope of competing with the riches of the Premier League after selling Luis Sinisterra to Leeds United last summer, speaking to The Athletic.
With over half of the season gone, Arne Slot’s Feyenoord are two points clear at the top and dreaming of only their second league title in the 21st century. That they find themselves in such a position is credit to Slot’s superb coaching, and a terrific recruitment team.
As Te Kloese points out, Feyenoord lost no fewer than five of their star players during the summer of 2022. Three of those swapped De Kuip for England; Tyrell Malacia joining Manchester United, Marcos Senesi joining Bournemouth and Colombia international Sinisterra joining Leeds for an initial £21 million.
Sinisterra, per Spotrac, also takes home £65,000-a-week at Elland Road.
A pay-packet even one of the Netherlands’ biggest and most historic institutions could not even dream of matching.
Leeds United spent big on Feyenoord talisman Luis Sinisterra
“We sold five players last summer,” Te Kloese explains. “The Premier League is seen as a big step forward from any league in Europe. The main goal for many players is to get to the Premier League.
“At a big traditional club like Feyenoord, with a large fanbase and a lot of emotion, we have the obligation to achieve things. But it’s so hard to compete when an English club comes in and makes a big offer to the club, and a big salary offer to the player.
“It’s amazing what happens in England. A lot of it is madness. There is no guarantee when you spend money. You always need to retain a good perspective on how to develop the players once you sign them. The scouting has to be top-notch, but so does everything around the team.”
Sinisterra scored 23 goals and set up 14 more as Feyenoord reached the UEFA Conference League final last season. There has been the odd flash of brilliance under Jesse Marsch in West Yorkshire, though injuries have restricted his progress in that famous white shirt.
Sinisterra did, at least, mark his comeback with a goal against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.
