Former Feyenoord manager Willem van Hanegem admits he has ‘no idea’ why the Eredivisie outfit did not do more to keep Crysencio Summerville before the winger’s move to the Premier League with Leeds United, speaking to Algemeen Dagblad.
The irony, Van Hanegem points out, is that Feyenoord are now breaking the bank for skilful little widemen like Leeds’ number ten.
22-year-old Igor Paxaio joined from Coritiba in an £8 million deal over the summer; money they could have saved had the Rotterdam giants not accepted a bid from Leeds United back in September 2020.
Summerville, who impressed on loan at ADO Den Haag in the 2019/20 season, has taken his time to break through at Elland Road. But, after inheriting Raphinha’s number ten shirt in West Yorkshire, the Netherlands U21 international came of age on Saturday afternoon, scoring a dramatic 89th minute winner away at Liverpool; Leeds first win at Anfield in over 20 years.
Crysencio Summerville scores famous Leeds winner at Liverpool
“How wonderful for that kid to score such an important goal for Leeds United at Anfield,” says Van Hanegem. “Feyenoord had him in their house but, unfortunately, he never broke through there. Of course, you could already see that he had the pure qualities.
“The club is now looking for those kind of players; small wingers with a quick action. For the Brazilian Igor Paixao – small, fast and agile – they paid millions.
“When I see Summerville, I think: Feyenoord would have made him better in the long run, had (they) done everything they could to keep him. Even if he had Steven Berghuis in front of him. But at the time, (fellow winger) Luciano Narsingh was also preferred. No idea why.”
Leeds paid just £1.3 million to take Summerville to England. The Rotterdam-born speedster has now scored in successive Premier League games, following up his consolation against Fulham with a goal that eases the pressure on Jesse Marsch’s shoulders.
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