Noah Adedeji-Sternberg has had a tumultuous summer. The winger has often been linked to Ajax and even reportedly reached an agreement with Club Brugge at one point. These speculations have greatly irritated KRC Genk fans, and in an interview with RTBF, he discusses this complicated period.
The 21-year-old Belgian, of Nigerian descent, was seen as a potential replacement for Mika Godts in Amsterdam. By the end of June, it became clear that Club Brugge wanted to sign him from Genk, a controversial transfer in Belgium.
Blauw-Zwart even reportedly established a personal agreement with the player without informing Genk. The Limburg club ultimately rejected an offer of around six million euros and demanded over ten million euros.
Although no transfer was finalized, this saga had sporting repercussions for Adedeji-Sternberg. He was sidelined from the Genk team for a while and faced criticism from supporters.
“The supporters booed me, and I can understand them, but this whole situation has exhausted me,” he admits.
“I just wanted to play, but I didn’t get that chance. I couldn’t express myself with the ball, I couldn’t act on the field. So I completely understand the supporters' thoughts about me.”
In the meantime, he has turned the page and wants to focus on the future. “I could have joined Brugge, but I had other options. However, the media only talked about Club Brugge, and I don’t know why. But that doesn’t interest me anymore; I live in the present,” he states.
“The only thing that matters to me now is to give my all for this wonderful club that is Genk.”
