'They were very concrete': Groningen's Stije Resink opens up about Benfica and Ajax links

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/resink-stije/bwBltw4n/"]Resink[/a] made waves in the first half of the season with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/groningen/MBUGcjb9/"]Groningen[/a], who were up in fifth place and fighting for European football. The 22-year-old midfielder impressed so much that he got linked to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ajax/8UOvIwnb/"]Ajax[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benfica/zBkyuyRI/"]Benfica[/a].[/p][p]On Sunday, Resink told [i][b][a href="https://www.espn.nl/voetbal/artikel/_/id/16691680/resink-baalt-nog-steeds-van-mislopen-transfer-naar-benfica-ze-waren-meteen-concreet" target="_blank"]ESPN[/a] [/b][/i]that the rumours were true and that a lot was going on.[/p][p][b]"It was quite surprising, also because it went so quickly. Some things were already playing via my agent, but that was for the summer. I was making my plans and trying to figure out what I would do next and where I would go,"[/b] said Resink.[/p][p][b]"Benfica came in the winter, two weeks before the transfer window would shut, and were immediately very concrete. They wanted to do business right away because they had two injuries, so that was surprising."[/b][/p][embed guid="2a1d54f3-eb69-484f-af26-e74120f539ec" url="https://x.com/ESPNnl/status/2053399706487636322?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Rumours spread of Resink having spoken to Benfica manager José Mourinho, but the Groningen captain refused to speak about that particular call: [b]"I got that question a lot. It's a weak answer, but these are things I don't answer in the media. A lot appeared in the media, I did my interviews, and as far as I thought I could be honest, I was."[/b][/p][p]Ajax were rumoured to be after Resink as well, but never got on the line: [b]"Ajax did not attempt anything during the winter, nor did I talk to them."[/b][/p][h2]'You can never do it right'[/h2][p]Eventually, FC Groningen refused to sell Resink during the winter - something he understood in the position they were in. [/p][p][b]"You discuss it with each other, and you have different interests. In the end, I also understand the club - we were in fifth place, we aim to qualify for European football, and I was the captain," [/b]he said.[/p][p]The midfielder also shared what it was like to be the centre of attention and the subject of these nagging transfer rumours, saying that it's impossible to ever please everyone.[/p][embed guid="160bfc0d-19f1-41f2-a423-983c6cd5c560" url="https://x.com/fcgroningen/status/2037063232704197015?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Everything goes between the clubs and the agents first. As a player, you know the rules in football, but in that sense, you can never do it right. Even if I said now that I spoke with Benfica, it wouldn't be nice towards Groningen. If I said that I did speak with them, then the question would be why I didn't talk with Mourinho.[/b][/p][p][b]"It's up to Groningen and Benfica to come up with something. Groningen eventually did that by communicating that they weren't selling me."[/b][/p][p]After the transfer window shut, Resink tore his ACL in FC Groningen's away game at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fc-volendam/6VbkuOqa/"]FC Volendam[/a] on March 1st. The injury ruled out a move over the summer, when he'd have likely moved to Benfica or another club.[/p][p]Resink ended his season having played 25 games across all competitions, scoring 5 goals and assisting another 5.[/p]