Clarification on Milan Smit’s Participation Against OGC Nice

omidbasir- This week, news from Deventer indicated that Milan Smit, at the urging of his agent, would not participate in the match against OGC Nice, despite his transfer to Stoke City not being finalized. However, Smit’s camp has responded strongly to these claims.

Director Jan Willem van Dop commented in the Board Room regarding Smit’s agent, Nikkie Bruinenberg, stating: “He suggested that it might be better for Smit not to play. However, we had already agreed that he would participate. It is concerning to witness such influences from an agent, which I found quite displeasing. The manner in which the agent approached this was disrespectful. In the end, I was quite frustrated with the situation.”

“This was also in the best interest of Go Ahead,” he continued, “as it involved a record deal and a life-changing opportunity for Milan, which we did not want to jeopardize. Ultimately, we received approval on Thursday for him to proceed and play.”

Bruinenberg reiterated that it was untrue that Smit himself refused to play at his instruction. “It is not accurate to say that I prohibited Milan from playing. He is an adult, and we mutually agreed that it posed too great a risk to the potential deal. From the outset, it was understood that once everything was in writing, he would be allowed to go to England.”