Jasper Cillessen says that lender Marcel Boekhoorn played an important role in his choice to return to NEC. The 67-year-old entrepreneur personally flew to Valencia to move the Orange keeper to a transfer to Nijmegen.
“We had lunch together when he came to Valencia,” Cillessen said on Tuesday at his presentation according to Broadcasting Gelderland. “I heard what he plans to do with the club. He wants to take steps with NEC. We have the ambition to play European every year. I remember that, the matches that NEC played against Udinese and Tottenham.”
At the end of last week it was still the question whether the return of 33-year-old Cillessen at NEC would continue. Due to a conflict between the keeper and Valencia, the transfer was in doubt. The folds were ironed out on Sunday, as a result of which Cillessen signed a three-year contract in Nijmegen on Monday.
“It got very high with Valencia, but I don’t want to talk about that anymore. That no longer makes sense,” Cillessen said about the conflict. Since the transfer was not yet completed last weekend, Mattijs Branderhorst defended the goal on Sunday in the home game against FC Twente (0-1).
Coming Sunday in the game against FC Volendam, Branderhorst seems to have to make way for Cillessen. “A few things still had to be arranged properly. Unfortunately, that’s why I couldn’t be there this weekend. But if the trainer thinks it’s okay, I’ll play on Sunday.”
Jasper Cillessen was officially presented by NEC on Tuesday.
Jasper Cillessen was officially presented by NEC on Tuesday.
Photo: ANP
Cillessen spoke to Van Gaal about transfer
In any case, the permanent place under the bar at NEC helps Cillessen in his chances of being selected for the World Cup in Qatar at the end of this year. The 63-time international already spoke with national coach Louis van Gaal and goalkeeper coach Frans Hoek about his transfer to the club where he broke through.
“I just have to perform and show the Jasper they know. They have every confidence in that. Van Gaal did not say that I would no longer have a chance at the World Cup. Then it would probably have been different,” said Cillessen.
“The World Cup is one of my big goals this year. It’s nice that I get a chance every week at NEC. And because it’s a very familiar environment for me here, I don’t need an adjustment period and it’s a lot easier.”
Cillessen went through the youth academy of NEC, but only played in the main squad of the Nijmegen team in the 2010/2011 season. He was attracted to Ajax in the summer of 2011 and then played for FC Barcelona (2016-2019) and Valencia (2019-2022).
