Will Real Madrid contact Feyenoord? 'I hope so'

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 19 May 2023 17:06 BST
• 3 min read

Christian 'Chaco' Gimenez hopes that his son, Santiago Gimenez, will get the most out of his career and end up at a top club in Europe.

The Feyenoord attacker is about to conclude a sublime first season in Europe. With 23 goals and 3 assists in 43 official matches, Gimenez played an essential role in winning the national title and reaching the semi-finals of the TOTO KNVB Cup and the quarter-finals of the Europa League. This has also led to interest from numerous clubs.

Gimenez senior hopes that his son can continue the line in the coming years, preferably at the highest level. “I hope that one day he will end up at Real Madrid. I really hope they get in touch sometime," the former footballer said via ESPN . “However, it is very difficult that a club like Real Madrid to attract a 22-year-old boy. And then he would also have Karim Benzema in front of him, so he would not play.But anyway, Real Madrid will remain Real Madrid."

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Clubs such as Sevilla and Real Betis were linked to Gimenez, but most interest seems to come from England. He hopes that his son will make an informed decision about his future in the short term, although the father of the Mexican international also knows that Feyenoord will find it difficult to say 'no' to certain amounts.

“Looking at how Santiago performs, it will be difficult for Feyenoord to say 'no' to a club that shows interest and wants to offer € 30 million. That is Feyenoord's revenue model. I wouldn't mind at all if he stays with Feyenoord for another year or two, but on condition that he continues this line and continues to develop himself as a footballer.

“The decision is up to Santi . He is adapting very well to European football, but he still has to improve a few things and he knows that himself.” Giménez himself told Voetbal International this week.

He is provisionally on Feyenoord's payroll until the summer of 2026. “If you ask me, I say I want to stay now. I'm not done yet, we're going to play Champions League, I'm in a club that feels like family, exactly what I had at Cruz Azul. I can develop a lot further as a football player.”

“The problem is that sometimes you don't always have it in your own hands, football is unpredictable. But now if I listen to my head and my heart, they both tell me to stay.”

Feyenoord intends to buy another 20 per cent of Gimenez's transfer rights. The Rotterdam club already had 50 per cent of his transfer rights and was obliged to buy another 20 per cent based on achieved goals. Ten per cent remains in the hands of Cruz Azul, Gimenez's former employer.