Feyenoord captain Orkun Kokcu is set to join Portuguese champions Benfica after Wesley Sneijder urged the midfielder to reject a transfer to Manchester United.
The 22-year-old captained Feyenoord to their stunning Eredivisie title success this campaign and was widely linked with a transfer this summer. The player’s father had fielded numerous enquiries for the Rotterdam club’s star man.
There was transfer interest from United in the energetic midfielder who progressed through Feyenoord’s youth system and accumulated 175 appearances for the club. He played a huge role in the club’s success this campaign, netting 12 goals despite often playing from a deep position.
He had emerged as a player of interest to United, although this was never formalised. United boss Erik ten Hag was familiar with Kokcu as an opponent in the Eredivisie when he was Ajax boss, and admired his aggressive style of play that takes him box-to-box.
United are considering the addition of at least one midfielder this summer as they look likely to sell either Fred or Scott McTominay, with question marks over the future of exiting loanee Marcel Sabitzer and the fitness levels of Christian Eriksen, who impressed in his debut campaign but struggles to last 90 minutes.
In the Netherlands, De Telegraaf are reporting that Kokcu is poised to join Benfica with a deal agreed in principle between the clubs for a €30million fee, with up to €10m in add-ons. He will be the long-term replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who joined Chelsea in January.
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Former Dutch midfield ace Sneijder has urged Kokcu to reject any move to Old Trafford. “He did a great job. He played a fantastic season,” Sneijder told Veronica Inside last month, as cited by United in Focus, when asked about the player. “But I doubt that he can compete at the top of Europe. Where should a boy like that go?
“I would say stay another year. Enjoy it. If you’re really good, that option will come naturally. Maybe he can reach the top of European football. If he is a starter player for three or four years and he carries that team, then that is possible.”
Sneijder added: “If you go to a mid-ranking team and opt for the money, there is a chance that you will never play in the Champions League. I would say stay at Feyenoord.”
Sneijder hung up his boots in 2019, having frequently been linked with a move to United over his 17-year long career. That never played out, and Sir Alex Ferguson has subsequently rejected any suggestion he ever wanted to sign the playmaker whilst in the Old Trafford hotseat.
"That's come up a lot of times but we were never interested in Sneijder," Ferguson responded when asked about players who were heavily linked with a switch but never transferred. "I don't know where that came from but you get a lot of them."
Sneijder was then linked with a move to United under Louis van Gaal, who had previously coached him at international level with the Netherlands. "Louis is one of the most intelligent men in football – and I knew of Manchester United's interest in the summer," Sneijder said in 2014. "It was flattering – but I am very happy in Turkey (with Galatasaray) – and it is very hard to leave Champions League football."
