Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers discusses his choice of Nigeria ahead of Belgium as well as speculations surrounding his future after he finished top scorer at the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League.
QUESTION: Luis Openda the Vitesse striker has been called up for the Red Devils of Belgium. Don’t you now think you missed an opportunity with Belgium?
DESSERS: No. When the invitation came from Nigeria, I had no doubts. It was a huge honour. In any case, I am someone who stands behind his choices and I do that now. If you have to wait for a possible selection of the Red Devils, then you may have nothing at all.
During the tour of the USA, you played as the top striker.
Victor Osimhen is still the number 1. But in the US he was not there and I got my chance, together with Terem Moffi (ex-KV Kortrijk, ed.) . It’s a shame we lost those games, but I showed something.
Hopefully I will also be in the team this week (Nigeria plays against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe in the qualifiers for the Africa Cup, ed.) .
Are you well integrated in the group or do you remain an outsider as a half Belgian?
I have been very well received. There are a lot of players with a past in Belgium and many can look back on a good season. Emmanuel Dennis (ex-Club Brugge) did well in the Premier League, Moses Simon (ex-Gent) won a prize with Nantes and I played the final of the Conference League. The Nigerian national team is good advertisement for Belgian football (laughs) .
How diverse is the group? In Nigeria you also have different ethnic groups and religions.
It is comparable to the Red Devils: it is completely a mixed group. It is nice to see that there is prayer before and after the training. Before the training Christian prayer and after the training Islamic prayer. That shows that we are all human and everything can go hand in hand.”
Is that to get both God and Allah on your side?
You can never have enough support (laughs) .
Have you been viewed differently by your teammates since the European final against Roma?
Not by my teammates, but I did notice that there was a lot of talk about it in Nigeria. Feyenoord are well-known there. The European final against Mourinho has generated interest.
How do you explain that Feyenoord did not take up the option of 4 million Euros in your contract to sign you permanently?
That option came up on August 31 when I was hired. Feyenoord already indicated at that time that that was far too much. Four million was the amount they had spent on all their transfers together last summer. They never thought that a year later they would be willing to pay 4 million for one player, who is already 27 and probably never could be sold for double or triple. Anyway, the season went the way it did. I showed something. Then various people hope that it can happen after all.
Was there pressure in the Netherlands to stay?
Every interview I was asked what would happen. But I honestly didn’t know. I was very happy in Feyenoord. For the first time I was at a club that I wouldn’t mind staying the rest of my career. That was a nice feeling that I cherish.
But… ?
I have had conversations with Feyenoord. It turned out that it clicked on a purely sporting basis, but that at a certain point you are hit with financial reality. On August 31, 2021, 4 million was a lot of money for Feyenoord and it still is. Maybe that will change later in the summer when they have sold some good players. But at the moment it is still too much.
Is it possible to complete the season at Racing Genk?
I told my mom on the phone yesterday. As long as I’m there, I will always give 100 percent for Racing Genk. That was also the case in the year that I sat on the bench. But now I feel something is moving. I’ll have to wait and see what happens first. After my vacation I have to sit down with the trainer. We will then hear what the plans are.
Could it be that you are already with another team?
That is very fast, but it is possible. There is interest. Let’s stick with that.
Don’t you have the feeling of unfinished business at Genk?
I understand what you mean. When I left I had that feeling. But now I have shown what I can do at a top club. I have been important in the Eredivisie and especially in Europe. That feeling of unfinished business is kind of gone. I’m not tied to the Belgian league. For me that was just a thing, to show that I am a striker for a top club. I think I succeeded in that. For the rest I have no feelings of revenge.
Do you feel the pressure of your age? 27 is not old but not young anymore?
I don’t feel old at all, but I notice that 27 is not an easy age. Shifts go either for someone experienced or for someone young. I’m in between. I don’t feel 27 yet either. I always play with guys who have been in professional youth academy since they were ten and who have been in that rhythm for seventeen years, but I’ve only been in the rhythm of a professional club for ten years. My peak is coming. My physical abilities are top notch. I feel stronger and fitter than ever. You also learn. You become calmer in front of goal. You become a more complete footballer. Mentally you are stronger. The best is yet to come, that’s a very nice feeling. And it also gives me a peace of mind.
Stories were also circulating about your tough wage demands.
Those are rumors that are not based on anything. I think it’s a shame it’s played on that, because I don’t think that’s what this story is about.
Have you not made any wage demands?
I asked for a wage that was in line with the market. People don’t know that, but I gave up a lot to get to Feyenoord. Financial has never been a priority for me, but of course I can’t keep giving up for years.
You are actually saying: I have invested in a sporting career so far, now is the time to reap the benefits?
That goes without saying. I have always made my choices sporting wise. In the end, that was the best choice of my career.
Did you have the feeling that you were at your feet at Feyenoord?
No not at all. I’ve always felt like I wasn’t 100 percent because I wasn’t always a regular starter. Now I finally had the feeling that I was past that point and that I could put in 100 percent of the effort for 90 minutes. I would have loved to show that at Feyenoord.”
Isn’t there a football romantic in you who does it for football happiness and not for money?
No, because when that consideration was made, it was about the 4 million euros that was not possible. After we won against Marseille, there was suddenly a lot of interest. Then something started to move and maybe something was possible at Feyenoord. But when we looked at the total picture, it was not possible. Feyenoord have also said that.
Are you disappointed by that or can you put that into perspective?
Sometimes it’s really not nice, but you learn to deal with it. After a while you don’t worry about it. I couldn’t do without football and without the football world. But if I stop playing football in seven, eight or ten years, there will be a part of me relieved.
How is your contact with Racing Genk?
That’s cordial. That is always the case at Genk – that speaks well for the club. I have also already received a message from the new trainer (Wouter Vrancken, ed.) . I haven’t spoken to him much yet, but his work is well known and speaks for itself.
