Feyenoord’s Mexican international Giménez is one of the revelations of the Eredivisie this season. The Mexican scored on behalf of Feyenoord in De Classic last Sunday and has put himself in the spotlight of the European top. The striker did not want to say much about Benfica’s interest.
Feyenoord opened the scoring in the fifth minute of De Classic. Santiago Giménez gave the team from Rotterdam a dream start in the Johan Cruijff Arena.
Giménez was the end station of a full Feyenoord attack, which started at Orkun Kökçü. He served Oussama Idrissi on the left, who suddenly cut the ball through to the steaming left back Quilindschy Hartman.
Hartman, back in the starting line after his absence against Shakhtar Donetsk, then passed low to Giménez, who escaped offside and pushed the 0-1 under Ajax goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. For Feyenoord it is the fastest opening goal in a Classic in Amsterdam in 64 years. Only Cor van der Gijp scored faster in 1959.
Giménez responds to Benfica’s interest, but declares love for Feyenoord
His goal against Ajax was Giménez’s eighth goal in the Eredivisie. He also scored five times in the Europa League. This has also shaken up other clubs in Europe. In a press conference of the Mexican national team, he was confronted with the interest of Benfica. He said, “To be honest, I don’t know anything. I heard about it through social media.”
“The truth is that I am happy at Feyenoord,” Giménez declared love to the Rotterdammers. He was taken from Mexico for about four million euros last summer, but the goal getter is now worth multiple times. He added, “It’s up to the clubs and my family. Other than that I leave it to God. He is the one who determines my path. The decisions I make go through God.”
According to the generally well-established Portuguese medium Record, Benfica would see the striker for the coming years in Giménez. Former PSV coach Roger Schmidt sees the attacker as an ideal replacement for Gonçalo Ramos. The international is in the interest of various international superpowers. If Schmidt wants to get away with Giménez, it will have to be a lot of money. The attacker has an ongoing contract until mid-2026.
