Öztürk slams Summerville’s Al Hilal switch as talent squandered

At 5:00 p.m. on a Tuesday, journalist Süleyman Öztürk, a VI columnist, stared at the headline announcing a €16 million net offer that sent Crysencio Summerville to Al Hilal, a move he described as a disappointment. He felt the transfer resembled an extravagant car collection rather than a step forward for the Oranje‑international.

The byline reads ÖztürkJournalist, confirming his role as a journalist, and the article also labels him VIColumnist. "Ik verkeer in dubio," he writes, indicating he is in doubt. The news gave him a feeling of teleurstelling, or disappointment.

He suspects he is not the only one sharing this view. His first thought, he says, is that Summerville wastes his talent.

Last season Summerville took the next step in his development at West Ham United. The English club provided a platform for his growth.

His selection for the Oranje national team and participation in the World Cup followed naturally. Those achievements underscored his rising profile.

The summer transfer window appeared the perfect moment for a move to a European top club. He attracted interest from Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma.

Ultimately, Summerville signed with Al Hilal. Öztürk likens the competition he joins to a "peperdure autoverzameling," an expensive car collection.

The column was published in the VI weekly.