Ivanušec Written Off Again at Feyenoord? Didn't Get a Second in 120 Minutes
Dutch media claim the 27-year-old Croatian international's return to the first team is unlikely, and the club could offload him as early as this summer.
Dutch media claim the 27-year-old Croatian international's return to the first team is unlikely, and the club could offload him as early as this summer.
Luka Ivanušec, the Croatian international footballer, finds himself in an even more precarious situation at Feyenoord after not getting a single second of playing time in the friendly match against Atalanta, which lasted a full 120 minutes. Teammates Casper Tengstedt and Gonçalo Borges were also overlooked, a clear sign that coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst does not seriously count on them.
Dutch media had already reported that Ivanušec was no longer in the spotlight, and now Voetbal International explicitly states that his return to the first team is not likely. Competition for the wing positions has intensified, with players like Leo Sauer and Gaoussou Diarra ahead of him.
Feyenoord brought Ivanušec from Dinamo in the summer of 2023. Although sources differ on the exact transfer fee, Tportal reports that more than seven million euros was paid, while Index.hr specifies the amount as 7.8 million euros. In any case, it was a significant investment that has not paid off so far.
The attacking player has failed to establish himself as a regular starter in Rotterdam. According to Index.hr data, he has made 55 appearances for Feyenoord, scoring just four goals and providing seven assists. Even last season's loan to Greek club PAOK did not bring the expected turnaround, despite solid playing time - he played 32 matches, scoring two goals and registering four assists.
Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad published an analysis of the club's preseason period at De Kuip, highlighting that the squad, with 29 players excluding youth players, remains too large. Sporting director Dévy Rigaux has four more weeks to trim the playing staff and bring in reinforcements in positions where the team is lacking.
One of the pressing weak points is the left-back position. Since Igor Paixão's departure two seasons ago, Feyenoord has not found an adequate replacement. The situation is further complicated by injuries to Gijs Smal and Jordan Bos, leaving Mika Mármol as the only available left-back, although Van Bronckhorst clarified on Sunday that the Spaniard was primarily brought in as a center-back. Additionally, the futures of Anis Hadj Moussa, Givairo Read, and Ayase Ueda are uncertain.
Ivanušec (27) has a contract with Feyenoord until the summer of 2028, but according to Dutch media close to the club, he is almost certainly on his way out. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is estimated at three million euros. It remains to be seen until the end of the transfer window whether a club will be willing to buy out his contract or if he faces another loan spell.
