Mohamed Ihattaren seems to be on the right track at RKC Waalwijk, but analysts Kenneth Perez and Marciano Vink are cautious with their enthusiasm. Although they are happy that the 22-year-old playmaker is returning, they think his debut against Ajax is too early. The situation raises questions about his physical condition and the risks associated with his comeback.
“It’s good that he seems to be coming out of it,” Perez said at This Was The Weekend. “But of course he is not completely fit. I understand that he may have been 120 kilos, but he is of course still much too heavy to be a professional football player.” The analyst emphasizes the need for good physical condition in professional football: “You are obliged to be fit.”
According to Perez, the risk of injuries is real. “This seems a little too soon,” he warns. “It is also about the risk of injuries. The worst that can happen now is that he gets a muscle tear.” The hope remains that Ihattaren will develop further, but according to Perez it is not yet the right time to use him.
Marciano Vink agrees with these concerns. “You cannot be out of football for so long with impunity,” he says. “Maybe it is a kind of reward that he has trained well for two weeks and that he can therefore play ten minutes.” He emphasizes that it is important for Ihattaren to add something to the team, rather than just playing a few minutes without making an impact.
