Significant injury for Shaqueel van Persie during Feyenoord clash
Shaqueel van Persie, the 19-year-old son of former Dutch international Robin van Persie, sustained a significant knee injury during Feyenoord’s Europa League match against Real Betis on Tuesday evening, reports BritPanorama.
The young forward landed awkwardly after an aerial challenge and immediately clutched his knee in apparent distress. Medical staff quickly rushed to his aid, ultimately deciding he needed to be removed from the pitch on a stretcher.
As his son was carried off during Feyenoord’s 2-1 defeat in Spain, Robin van Persie, who has been managing the club since last summer, could do little but watch. Before Shaqueel was taken down the tunnel for further evaluation, Van Persie stepped beyond his managerial duties to accompany his son. He requested the stretcher be brought to the touchline, where he knelt beside it, offering comfort as paramedics tended to Shaqueel.
Described as devastated by the setback, the young striker, who previously came through Manchester City’s academy, faced a poignant moment that highlighted the challenges Van Persie encounters in managing his own son at the senior level. Speaking after the match, the Feyenoord boss admitted that the prognosis appeared grim. “It’s not looking good. Tests have to point out how he’s doing, but the first signs are not looking good,” he said. He later described the situation as “heartbreaking” to witness his son’s pain.
During their touching exchange, Van Persie revealed, “I just wanted to give him that warmth and the feeling that we’re there for him.” This injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time for Shaqueel, who had recently made headlines after scoring his first senior goals for Feyenoord, drawing comparisons to his father’s renowned finishing technique. Notably, Shaqueel had only been on the pitch for ten minutes as a substitute when the incident occurred, having just provided an assist for Casper Tengstedt’s goal that offered Feyenoord a glimmer of hope in the match.
In moments like this, the intersection of sport and family is laid bare, underscoring the emotional complexities faced by those in the game, where triumph and tragedy often share the same pitch.
