Feyenoord manager Brian Priske this week said he’s trying to help Santiago Giménez regain his form, after he snubbed Nottingham Forest to stay at the club.
The Reds tabled multiple offers and their fourth bid of €33m plus €2m bonuses pleased Feyenoord. The striker wasn’t in favour of joining the Premier League side in the summer window.
Former Nottingham Forest striker Pierre van Hooijdonk insists he understands why the 23-year-old turned down the English club.
On Thursday, the Mexico international played the full 90 minutes in his side’s 4-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Van Hooijdonk analysed Giménez’s display for Ziggo Sport and his comments are relayed by Voetbal Primeur.
The frontman managed 26 goals and eight assists from 41 games in all competitions last season. He has scored four goals and registered two assists from six games this season.
Van Hooijdonk is of the belief the player needs to further improve his game and this may have convinced him to snub Nottingham Forest.
“I’m always in favour of protecting the striker a little, maybe that’s preaching to my own parish, but it’s simply far too little that Giménez is showing,” he said.
“He gives away so many balls himself. Certainly, in this Feyenoord you are expected to hold on to the ball a bit more. He does that so little, there’s so much room for improvement there.
“I also understand very well that he didn’t go to Nottingham Forest, because there he doesn’t hold a single ball with him, against those bears in the Premier League.
“I’m not writing Giménez off, absolutely not, because he too benefits from a good team around him, then he too can excel. But it’s just not enough at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are unbeaten after four Premier League games this season.
