Wesley Sneijder will definitely not return as a professional on the football fields. De Utrecht has made the decision for himself, his management confirmed.
At the beginning of last month, the 36-year-old former international was made to think by the fans of FC Utrecht. They begged their fellow townsman to put his football boots back on. That happened after Arjen Robben announced that he would return to FC Groningen.
Sneijder, who received an anniversary shirt with his name on it from the fans, went briefly on the shoulders and told the fans that he ‘absolutely started thinking’ about a return: “I have with Jordy (Zuidam, the technical director of Utrecht, ed.) already spoken. “
FC Utrecht also saw a return from Sneijder, who played his last league match in Qatar at the end of 2018. “A top fit and driven Sneijder is of course always interesting for FC Utrecht”, said Zuidam at the time.
Opinions divided
In the NOS Football podcast on 6 July, opinions were divided about the feasibility of Sneijder’s return. Commentator Jeroen Grueter had a hard head, but Jan Roelfs was of a different opinion. “In my view it is possible that Sneijder will be a full-fledged premier division player in six months.”
Major shareholder Frans van Seumeren of FC Utrecht understands the record international’s decision. “It would have been quite a challenge for him to get fit enough and play at this level again. Especially now, because there is a nice selection now. It would have been nice, but I respect his decision,” he said. AD.
Sneijder will still be admired in the near future on the training field of the Utrecht main division DHSC, the club he supports financially and where he is on the technical staff, but not on the field with the main force. He will keep training to look good at his farewell match on June 9 next year. Then he celebrates his 37th birthday.
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