Ivanušec Edging Closer to Feyenoord Exit
The Croatian international has fallen out of favor with coach Van Bronckhorst, and Dutch media are hinting at a possible loan or transfer before the deadline.
The Croatian international has fallen out of favor with coach Van Bronckhorst, and Dutch media are hinting at a possible loan or transfer before the deadline.
Luka Ivanušec, the 27-year-old Croatian international, is edging closer to leaving Feyenoord. Dutch media report that the occasional Vatreni player has once again dropped out of the club's and coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst's plans, with confirmation coming in a preseason friendly against Atalanta that lasted a full 120 minutes. Ivanušec, along with his teammates Tengstedt and Borges, did not get a single minute of playing time.
Media close to the Rotterdam club claim that Ivanušec is almost certainly on his way out. It remains to be seen whether a club willing to buy out his contract will emerge before the transfer window closes, or whether he faces another loan spell.
Feyenoord brought the Croatian international from Dinamo in the summer of 2023 for over seven million euros. However, Ivanušec failed to make an impact in Rotterdam, and last season's loan to Greek club PAOK did not turn things around either. His contract with the Dutch club runs until the summer of 2028, but Rotterdam could already be open to a transfer this summer.
Meanwhile, Barcelona has signed Brazilian international Kerolin from Manchester City. The 26-year-old forward has signed a contract until 2030, and according to BBC Football, City received around £1.3 million for the transfer, making it the highest fee ever paid for a Brazilian female footballer. Kerolin shone last season in 15 WSL appearances with nine goals and five assists, including a hat-trick against Chelsea, helping the club secure their first WSL title in ten years and the FA Cup.
Barcelona lost several key players this summer, including two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and defender Mapi Leon, who moved to London City Lionesses, as well as talented forward Salma Parraluelo, who joined Lyon. Kerolin is seen as the direct replacement for Parraluelo.
Barcelona has also signed 18-year-old Belgian footballer Jesse Bissiwu. The club paid Club Brugge €8.5 million for him, and the youngster signed a contract until 2031 on Tuesday in the presence of president Joan Laporta.
"My first days have been wonderful. A lovely family welcomed me, and I am extremely grateful for that," Bissiwu told Mundo Deportivo. He added that everyone has received him very warmly and friendly, and that he is very happy to be there. "When I was young, I always dreamed of playing for a big club like Barcelona, so being here is a dream come true for me."
Bissiwu confirmed that he has already spoken with coach Hansi Flick: "He has welcomed me well, we've had a few conversations, and it's very easy to understand what I need to do this year: work hard and learn as much as possible." He concluded that he has only watched Camp Nou on TV so far, but not live.
