Philosophical Dutch press: Daley Blind open to Ajax return, but is it the right decision? | OneFootball

Ajax and Daley Blind are in contact about a possible return for the veteran, but the question is whether the Amsterdammers are doing the right thing. VoetbalPrimeur looked back at De Telegraaf reporters Valentijn Driessen and Mike Verweij’s differing opinion about the 35-year-old defender.

“If Tadic doesn’t go to Ajax, then I would look at Blind. But both Tadic and Blind?…”, said Driessen, expressing his reservations in Kick-off, the football podcast of De Telegraaf.

Verweij, came across a little more enthusiastic. “Blind has a contract in Girona until mid-2026. If Ajax has to pay for him, then you shouldn’t get him. But if you can take him for free, then I would do that.”

Driessen was still not convinced, however. “You see, at Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona, there are two or three experienced players, but that’s it. You can’t have too many of them. (At Ajax) You already have Davy Klaassen and Steven Berghuis. I think you shouldn’t be too generous with giving those guys contracts.”

Driessen understands that Blind did not like his previous reserve role at Ajax. It eventually led to a rift and a transfer-free departure to Bayern Munich. “You saw it when Blind was put on the bench under Alfred Schreuder. He had a lot of trouble with that. Blind is so eager that he wants to play and does not want to sit on the bench.”

According to Verweij, that can be managed with the 108-time Oranje international. “There are always chances in a season. If he plays really well, he can grab them. But those expectations will be different now than they were under Schreuder, right? He’s two years older.”

“They will have to make considerable concessions. They will definitely not earn the salaries they used to.”

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield