Kodai Sano explains decision to skip NEC match to secure PSV transfer

Japanese midfielder Kodai Sano has detailed the difficult decision to skip NEC Nijmegen’s UEFA Champions League qualifying match against Olympiacos to secure his transfer to PSV Eindhoven.

In an interview with ‘De Telegraaf’, the 22-year-old explained that after previous transfer opportunities had fallen through, he chose to avoid the risk of injury that could have jeopardized the agreement with PSV. Sano noted that his mental focus was not entirely on the match due to the impending move, making the decision to sit out a calculated risk to ensure the transfer was finalized.

Sano expressed deep gratitude toward former NEC manager Dick Schreuder, noting the difficulty of communicating his decision to him. He also reflected on his transition to life in the Netherlands, mentioning initial challenges with the language and culture before eventually feeling at home. Sano has since joined PSV and made his debut.