There were a few tears shed in De Kuip as three of Feyenoord's favourite sons returned home last night.

Jordy Clasie was in tears as he was afforded an emotional welcome returning to Feyenoord a little over a week after leaving, he was presented to the fans and a montage of photo's displayed on the big screen to rapturous applause, Graziano Pelle was afforded the same honour but obviously having left a year ago the emotion was not so raw for the Italian as it was for Clasie who had been at the Rotterdam club since he was 9 years old and was visibly in tears.

Clasie told the Daily Echo after the game.

“I think the people they know me, they know that I’m an emotional guy. On this moment, it’s amazing for me that I can say goodbye in this stadium.”

He added: “I played 15 years at Feyenoord and growing up here — that is my club.

“For me it was a good day and a good day to say goodbye to the fans and the people here, and now I’m very happy that the day is finished and I can focus everything on Southampton. I play now for Southampton and this is now my club.”

Pelle and Ronald Koeman also received emotional welcomes from Feyenoord supporters who are known as being the most voiciferous and passionate in Holland despite a lack of real success in the league their last Eridivisie title being won in 1999.

However the supporters are appreciative of those that have put in effort for their club even after they have left and one can only compare the welcome that players returning to old clubs in England receive which with the odd exception apart is usually one of indifference at best and outright hostility at the other end of the scale.

Photo: Action Images

Jesus_02 added 09:36 - Jul 24 I wonder how we would greet Gareth Bale if Barcelona played a pre-season friendly at St Marys. I doubt it would be indifferent or hostile. Saints fans want to Saints to grow as a club and whenever a player (Lovren for example) uses us purely as a stepping stone to a rival club it hurts because it damages our ambition, and we react accordingly. Please stop pretending the way that fans react is unreasonable somehow. If Classie had gone to Ajax I can’t imagine that his reception would have been at all warm.

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SaintNick added 12:47 - Jul 24 I havent pretended that how we react is unreasonable i stated that in England with all clubs it is different. If you want to be pedantic you could compare Clasie to Lallana who certainly could not be accused of using us as a stepping stone, staying on the Liverpool comparisons, have any Feyenoord fans accused us of stealing their manager and lambasted koeman for coming back and getting Clasie and Pelle and looking to sign Vilhena and a couple more linked ? We should aspire to be more like Feyenoord fans in England, loyal to their team but appreciative of the efforts of those who have played, yes if Claise had gone to Ajax it might have been different, but none of our players went to Pompey did they ? Contrast how Le Tissier and Benali were treated by Cortese, would Feyenoord fans have stood back let that happen there ?

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SaintBrock added 13:52 - Jul 24 The reception given to their returning idols was lovely and makes one wish that the spirit of football was always like this. One can dream. Gareth Bale & Theo Walcott will always receive a hero's welcome at SMS, both left because the Club's financial position was parlous and we needed money fast so we had to sell the crown jewels even though neither player was agitation for a move at the time. We knew they would leave one day for the bigger stage that we could never offer them in those days. Morgan has also left with our blessing.

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SaintNick added 14:52 - Jul 24 Not quite sure that we needed to sell Walcott, we were only six months or so out of the Premier League and had parachute payments, we sold him because we were worried he might not sign a contract on his 17th birthday and could walk away with a lot less through a tribunal
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Jesus_02 added 15:22 - Jul 24 SaintBrock Has got it about right Morgan HAS left with our blessing so did Rickie. Mainly because they didnt act like a tits in the process. Also I think if you speak to most fans they are mellowing about Lallana because they realise that he isnt bad at lad...just very badly advised. Its always about things are done rather than what has been done. Who can blaime Cork for instance? I dont think we should aspire to ba anything other than like saints fans. I googled Feyanood Fans and this was the 1rst hit! http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/25/dutch-police-on-alert-as-feyenoo This was the second http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/19/feyenoord-fans-arrested-rome-eur

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