Reiss Nelson to miss Champions League clash with Barcelona due to work permit issues

Reiss Nelson will not be available for Feyenoord's Champions League match against FC Barcelona on Wednesday. Rijnmond reporter Dennis van Eersel reported this on X on Tuesday, but Feyenoord have not yet officially confirmed the news. The reason is that Nelson's work permit has not been processed in time for him to be included in the matchday squad. On Friday, head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst said he hoped the paperwork for the 26-year-old winger would be completed ahead of the trip to Barcelona. That did not happen. Nelson also missed Saturday's away game against NEC Nijmegen for the same reason. Without the former Arsenal player, Feyenoord still won 3-1 away from home. It was a positive sign that the team can cope without him, but Champions League football is a completely different challenge. Nelson joined Feyenoord as a free agent last week after leaving Arsenal, where he spent most of his career. He signed a contract at De Kuip until the summer of 2027. This is his second spell with the Rotterdam club. During the 2026/22 season, Nelson was on loan at Feyenoord from Arsenal and made 32 appearances, scoring four goals and providing seven assists. That experience helped him develop as a player and regain confidence. His absence is a blow because Nelson is seen as a player who can provide quality on the wing. He is skilful, direct and intelligent in the final third. Van Bronckhorst was eager to have him available for the Barcelona match. With Nelson out, Anis Hadj Moussa is likely to start. Hadj Moussa missed the NEC game because of fitness problems, but he travelled to Barcelona with the squad normally. According to Rijnmond, there is a strong chance he will be in the starting eleven. He is a fast winger who is not afraid to take on defenders. In a big match like this, he could be a surprise factor for the home side to worry about. However, Feyenoord must also deal with the overall challenge of facing a strong Barcelona side. The Catalan club have plenty of technical quality and attacking options. If Feyenoord only defend without offering anything on the counter-attack, they will likely be overwhelmed. The Dutch side will need energy and composure. Feyenoord's next home match in the Champions League league phase is scheduled for 14 October against Como at De Kuip. That gives them an opportunity to pick up important points after the Barcelona encounter. For now, the team must focus on the immediate challenge in Spain. Reiss Nelson will have to wait for his chance. He remains motivated to prove himself after a difficult period at Arsenal. Football can be cruel, and sometimes off-field matters delay a player's debut. Nelson needs to stay patient. Van Bronckhorst understands that situation well. He has managed many difficult moments in his coaching career. His team showed against NEC that they can win without key players, but against Barcelona they will need something special. That spark could come from Hadj Moussa or another player ready to step up. The match between Barcelona and Feyenoord kicks off at 18:45 local time on 7 October 2026. Both teams will announce their lineups before the game. Feyenoord will hope to make a positive start to their Champions League campaign despite the absence of Nelson.