Before being loaned out to the Dutch champions, the 19-year-old winger, who cost approximately £7 million, moved from Odense to Newcastle in the summer. Minteh has scored four goals in his 20 Feyenoord appearances thus far, one of which came in the Champions League.
After Gambia’s early elimination from the African Cup of Nations, the teenager has lately returned to Feyenoord. However, the Dutch media has offered some criticism over his performances.
Journalist Mikos Gouka of Algemeen Dagblad questioned Minteh’s understanding of position. “I have seen Minteh come on, but when he is standing there, the bench has been screaming at him for thirty minutes, because Minteh walks everywhere he should not,” he stated. “He’s not sure where to stand in dead moments. He is an intuitive player who makes all of his decisions. It was eighteen months ago that he was an amateur. He’s not managing it well enough overall.
Amidst an injury problem, there was discussion of Newcastle bringing Minteh back to the team during the January transfer window. But the club didn’t try to shorten his loan term because there was no recall clause.
In response to Minteh’s criticism, Feyenoord manager Arne Slot stated that the player is on loan because he still has a lot to learn. Slot answered, “That’s right,” in reference to Minteh’s spatial awareness. “But I think that is also the reason why Newcastle United loaned him to us!”They agree with us that he has a lot of talent. However, his budding talent is still not “finished.” That’s where we are at the moment in the football hierarchy.
“If he had such an overview of the ball to give every cross, he would have stayed at Newcastle.”
Just eight of Minteh’s 20 Feyenoord outings have been as a starter. He hasn’t played off the bench in his two games since returning from the AFCON. After finishing third in their Champions League group, the Rotterdam team advanced to the Europa League and is presently ranked second in the Eredivisie.
Minteh will finish out the season at Feyenoord before joining the Newcastle team this summer, where he will undergo preseason evaluations.
