TOP STORIES - Huntelaar has made a decision and ends career

 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will almost definitively end his career. The attacker already announced last season that he would stop, but the doubts remained with the outside world and the move to Schalke 04 changed his planning. The goal scorer does not return within the lines.

"It has been beautiful. Never say never, but it is ready. My body may be exhausted sometimes. Playing football is the best thing there is. I also really enjoy being on the training field," Huntelaar said last season at ESPN after he scored his 150th Eredivisie goal against PEC Zwolle. In the winter break he returned to the ailing Schalke 04, but he was unable to save that team from relegation from the Bundesliga. It really appears to be the end of his career, says journalist Freek Jansen.

The attacker was linked to FC Twente and sc Heerenveen this summer, while PhD student NEC also made serious attempts to let him shine in the Dutch league for one more season. He even refused an offer from his old love De Graafschap. 'Huntelaar took the time for himself to sort everything out. That time is officially still underway, but the former striker has already made the decision for himself. He will not return as a football player," said the journalist, who used to play with the striker in the youth academy of the Superboeren.

Huntelaar made his professional football debut with PSV. He ended up at sc Heerenveen via rental periods at De Graafschap and AGOVV. There he made an impression and Ajax took him over. Via Real Madrid, AC Milan, Schalke 04 and the 76 matches for the Dutch national team, he returned to Amsterdam in 2017. He announced his retirement there last year. It seems only a matter of time before he really makes that choice final.