It's no secret that Mohamed Ihattaren is looking to move on from Fortuna Sittard this summer, but he still has one year left on his contract with the Limburgers. In an interview with Voetbal International, technical director Joris Mathijsen discusses the current situation.
Ihattaren made his return to professional football two years ago at RKC Waalwijk. The talented player could not prevent his club's relegation, and he subsequently joined Fortuna Sittard. Last season in Limburg was a valuable one for Ihattaren, with six goals and eleven assists in thirty official matches.
'There has been no club interest,' says the technical director of the Limburgers. 'At the moment, Mo is fully committed to us. His focus is on getting fit and making a transfer if possible.' Various analysts saw him as an ideal successor for Anis Hadj Moussa at Feyenoord, but it seems that Feyenoord prefers Sami Ouaissa from NEC. Leeroy Echteld recently expressed his desire to bring Ihattaren to AZ, but the scouting department has ruled out this option.
FC Twente is currently the only Dutch club with serious interest. However, Erik ten Hag has not yet contacted Fortuna, as Mathijsen informs. 'There has been no club interest,' says Joris Mathijsen. 'At the moment, Mo is fully committed to us. His focus is on getting fit and making a transfer if possible.' Sittard still expects Ihattaren to make a move this summer.
'They must stop talking about the past because he has proven over the last seasons that Mo Ihataren no longer exists. He is an excellent player who is more than good enough to play for a Dutch top club,' says Mathijsen.
