Erik ten Hag does not know whether he will also have David Neres available from September 1. Ajax strengthened itself this summer with Steven Berghuis and Mohamed Daramy and Ten Hag also has a compatriot of Neres, Antony. The trainer thinks the 24-year-old Brazilian can still be of value, although he will not lie for a transfer.
“I can’t answer that,” Ten Hag answers when asked whether Neres will still be part of Ajax’s selection after September 1. “I think we have a good squad that needs to grow now. We are finally complete and that includes David Neres. I am very pleased with what he has shown in recent weeks and I hope he continues this.”
Ten Hag will not lie for a possible outgoing transfer from Neres. “We have so many attackers,” the trainer tells Football International. “You have to see if there is perspective for all players. But it is also clear that he can be of great value. We have seen that in a lot of games.”
“I still remember the match against Tottenham Hotspur,” he refers to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2018/19. “He has played very important matches for Ajax in Europe. A continuous threat to the opponent.” According to UOL Esporte has inquired Olympique Lyon in Amsterdam about the availability of Neres. Ajax is betting on an amount of 25 million euros.
“A departure of players such as David Neres and André Onana is logical,” said director of football affairs Marc Overmars previously to the weekly. “Players who have been with us for four and five years. Then we take them further, they are ready for the next step.” With an alleged asking price of 25 million euros, Ajax has already dropped a lot compared to a few years ago. “He could go to China two and a half years ago, for more than forty million euros, but I don’t regret it at all,” Overmars said at the end of July.
“That also brought us that wonderful year. He scored the decisive goal against PSV, scored important goals against Real Madrid and Juventus. That wouldn’t have happened if we had sold it in December. If the now x amount is less, then so be it. We always go for the sporty story,” emphasized the man who is in charge of the technical portfolio in Amsterdam.
Divided over several installments, Ajax eventually paid about 22 million euros for Neres, who came over from São Paulo in January 2017. After a difficult first half year, the Brazilian became a valued base force in Amsterdam. Neres suffered a serious knee injury in 2019 and an ankle injury last season, but has now fully recovered. He has 43 goals and 39 assists in 161 appearances for the club. At Olympique Lyon, Neres would be reunited with trainer Peter Bosz, with whom he worked for six months in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.