Official: Afellay retires

Ibrahim Afellay (April 2, 1986) hangs up his boots. “I quit, the time is coming soon. I've had it in my head for a while. He knew what he wanted and especially what he didn't want. In the end I made the decision and I am at peace “, Afellay himself communicated in 'NPO Studio Voetbal', the Dutch television program in which he works as an analyst. It has not been a desired withdrawal, since as he later added, “I wanted to continue for another year, but not at all costs.”

Ibi He expected an offer that did not come from the Persian Gulf or, at least, not wrapped in the conditions he wanted and this has accelerated his final goodbye to the playing fields. Afellay had been without a team since last summer he left PSV, looking for that last chance that has not finally come. In this way, in Eindhoven he began and in Eindhoven ended a career that, while stable and successful, has not reached the high heights he aimed for when his fledgling talent took him to the Camp Nou in 2011.

The one from Utrecht was formed in the Rood-Witten and with 24 years, after many attempts by several greats to remove the virtuous extreme of the Philips Stadion, packed up for the 2010-11 winter market and He went on to reinforce Barcelona. With the Catalans he shared successes and team with Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and company, but, Despite adding the 2011 Champions League to his personal showcase, he failed to win the favor of Guardiola, first, and 'Tata' Martino, later.

Loans and injuries among successes

A loan to Schalke 04 in the middle of both stages failed to make him take off at Can Barça and the injuries extinguished his blue and red flame until Stoke City He joined him at zero cost in the summer of 2015, after spending the previous season on loan at Olympiakos. In the Potters He had lights in the beginning, but well because of the physical problems, which did not leave him, or due to lack of confidence, he did not reach the ceiling that he had glimpsed years ago. His contract at Stoke-on-Trent ended and PSV tried to rescue him in July 2019, after being unemployed since January.

The adventure in the team that saw him grow and made him an international (he played for Oranje on 53 occasions and scored 7 goals) was not as successful as both parties would surely have wanted and the clash against Twente (1-1) of January 26, 2020 will appear as his last game as a professional. The last 75 minutes in which he had time to deliver his last assist, but which leaves him with a bitter aftertaste, since he was sent off for a double yellow.

Lyour titles with Barça (Champions, European Club World Super Cup, League …), with participation in the final of the Champions League against United, the championships of its beginnings at PSV (four consecutive Eredivisie) and its participation with the Netherlands in dthe Eurocups (2008 and 2012) and a World Cup (2010) they will remain as your greatest triumphs. A career where assignments and injuries have accompanied the successes and leave Afellay's football life with an incomplete aroma.