Eredivisie side Feyenoord are hoping that Luis Sinisterra’s move to Leeds United this summer will tempt more South American youngsters to choose them in future.
Sinisterra joined Leeds in a €25m deal from the Dutch club back in July as part of Jesse Marsch’s rebuild at Elland Road.
He had been with Feyenoord for four years following a move from Once Caldas in Colombia in 2018.
He established himself as a key player for Feyenoord during those four years, racking up 35 goals and 29 assists in 113 games in all competitions and showing enough talent that Leeds were willing to pay for him this summer.
He was one of several big exits for the club, with Tyrell Malacia also joining Manchester United in a €15m deal as well.
Those sorts of transfers show that the Dutch side, who are desperately trying to find a way to catch Ajax without the boost of Champions League football, are doing something right.
And according to general manager Dennis te Kloese, the hope is transfers like that will see others arrive at the club down the line hoping for similar.
“If you reach the final of the Conference League, it’s a calling card,” he told Algemeen Dagblad.
“Players want to go to Feyenoord now. For boys from South America or Mexico the premier league is a nice intermediate step in their career.
“They feel they can become better at Feyenoord. And the fact that we have sold players to clubs like Manchester United, Leeds United and Benfica also helps.
“If they perform well straight away, like Sinisterra, that again increases Feyenoord’s appeal.”
