Feyenoord technical director Dévy Rigaux has moved quickly to shut down the swirling summer transfer talk surrounding Givairo Read, categorically denying that the Dutch club ever entertained a €30m bid from Nottingham Forest or anyone else.
The twenty-year-old full-back dominated headlines throughout the window, with Forest heavily tracking the defender as Oliver Glasner sought to bolster his squad. Ultimately, those protracted negotiations did not result in a deal at De Kuip, with Forest eventually pivoting to sign Daniel Muñoz late in the window.
Setting the Record Straight on the Valuation
With Read remaining in Rotterdam, Rigaux spoke candidly to ESPN to clear up the staggering figures that had been banded about in the media.
“I don’t know where that figure (€30m) came from,” Rigaux stated.
“I’d rather not discuss specific amounts, but I can certainly say it wasn’t thirty million. Besides, it wouldn’t have meant we could have immediately reinvested those millions, so that doesn’t really make the difference.
The Player’s Stance and Future Prospects
Read handled the intense speculation with admirable maturity. While he never kicked up a fuss or forced an exit, the youngster made no secret of the fact that he found the concrete interest from the Premier League genuinely exciting.
Instead of sulking over a collapsed move, Read has knuckled down. Rigaux views the defender’s retention as a major signal of strength for Feyenoord, giving the star prospect another vital year to mature in the Eredivisie. If his upward trajectory continues on its current path, it feels inevitable that Europe’s heavyweights will return to the negotiating table.
What Might Have Been for Forest
For Nottingham Forest supporters, looking back at the summer saga offers a classic case of what could have been. Forest’s start to the Premier League season under Oliver Glasner has highlighted the relentless demands of top-flight football. Following a narrow opening-day defeat to Leeds United, a hard-fought 2-2 draw away at Anfield against Liverpool, and a tense 0-0 stalemate with Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground, the Reds have shown they can mix it with the division’s elite.
Adding a high-ceiling talent like Read would have added extra depth to the backline, but with Muñoz arriving instead and the squad currently adapting to life under Glasner, the focus firmly remains on translating those gritty performances into a maiden Premier League win under the lights at the City Ground.
