Anis Hadj Moussa appears to have drawn a line under his failed move to Al-Ittihad by returning to training with Feyenoord and preparing to travel with the squad for their Champions League meeting with Barcelona next Wednesday.
The Algeria international, 24, has endured a turbulent few days as the summer transfer window reached its conclusion. Hadj Moussa has won 18 caps and scored twice for his country, and his proposed move to the Saudi Pro League now appears to be behind him.
According to radio station RTV Rijnmond, the winger will be part of the Feyenoord group travelling for the match. His inclusion follows his return to training on Monday, when he is understood to have explained the circumstances surrounding the transfer saga to his team-mates.
Relations between Hadj Moussa and Feyenoord’s management had become particularly strained. The club had been reluctant to allow him to leave for much of the process, especially after the Dutch transfer window had closed, because it would have been unable to find a suitable replacement for the left-footed player.
After rejecting several offers, Feyenoord eventually agreed to hold discussions with Al-Ittihad, the club of Algeria team-mate Houssem Aouar. The proposed deal was based on a fee of 40m euros, potentially rising to 42m euros including bonuses.
However, Al-Ittihad failed to provide the bank guarantee requested by Feyenoord. That was enough for the transfer to collapse during the final stages of the Saudi Arabian transfer window.
Hadj Moussa was reportedly unhappy with what he considered a lack of clarity from Feyenoord’s leadership in its communication of the situation. His frustration was compounded by his omission from the squad for last weekend’s league match against NEC.
The club officially attributed that absence to disciplinary reasons after the player missed the team bus.
During the same period, Hadj Moussa also changed his profile picture on social media, in a move that suggested the failed transfer could leave lasting marks on his relationship with Feyenoord.
His return to the squad provides an indication that the immediate focus is now back on the Rotterdam club. Hadj Moussa has established himself as a key player for Feyenoord and has started all four of their matches at the beginning of this season. He has scored once and provided one assist.
The winger’s potential appearance against Barcelona would therefore represent a swift return to competitive contention after a dramatic end to the transfer window. His decision to report back for training and address the situation directly with his team-mates marks an important step in restoring stability following the collapse of the Al-Ittihad move.