MY ACCOUNT
Santiago Gimenez has the chance to fire Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title this weekend.
The Rotterdam outfit have an eight-point advantage at the top of the table and victory over Go Ahead Eagles will see them win the league for the first time since 2017.
A crucial figure in their sensational campaign has been Mexican striker Gimenez, who has been enjoying a sensational run of goalscoring form.
Ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash, we take a look at the 22-year-old’s debut season in the Netherlands which has caught the eye of Europe’s top clubs.
Scoring streak
Gimenez has scored 22 goals in 42 games in all competitions during his first season at Feyenoord.
The achievement is all the more impressive when you consider that it took time for the striker to establish himself as a regular starter in Arne Slot’s side.
Gimenez’s fitness was not initially considered to be up to scratch following his summer move from Mexican club Cruz Azul.
Brazilian striker Danilo was Slot’s first choice until the hotshot forced his way into the team earlier this year.
Gimenez had scored three league goals before finding the net in a late January fixture against Twente.
That strike began a streak of 11 strikes in 13 Eredivisie fixtures. Eight of those have come in the last seven matches, with the 6ft forward finding the net in every game.
Slot verdict
Gimenez’s has pushed Feyenoord close to the line in the Dutch title race — but has also made his spell at the club likely to be a short one.
No Mexican player has scored more goals in their debut campaign in Europe, with Javier Hernandez and Luis Garcia both managing 20 in their first seasons.
Gimenez has been linked with a number of clubs from top European leagues, including Manchester United.
His current manager spoke about the rising star’s ambition earlier this season.
Slot said: “I’ve said before that Santi didn’t come here for the money, he could have earned a lot more in Mexico. He has something in his head that he wants, so that’s very positive.
“Let’s trust that he can handle the money and that he looks purely at what is best for his development as a footballer. Feyenoord have a good chance of keeping him.
“The most important thing that he has developed at Feyenoord is his physical form. He already showed the qualities that he had at the beginning of the season in Mexico.
“Now he has gotten more fit and, therefore, the way he wants to play can last 90 minutes. As a result, he now usually starts and has a full match to show his qualities.”
Shopping lists
Any player who scores the amount of goals that Gimenez has managed in the last few months will inevitably be in demand.
In terms of his development, staying at Feyenoord and competing in the Champions League is possibly the most sensible course of action.
But Slot’s own future is also up in the air with the Dutch coach having been linked with the vacancy at Tottenham — the manager’s departure would weaken the Eredivisie outfit’s case.
The club saw a number of their top players poached last summer and teams from wealthier leagues are likely to be circling again.
It is Gimenez that will be the top target — and you can be sure that the scouts will be out in force this weekend.
