Youri Regeer and Naci Ünüvar hope to play a lot in the Eredivisie next season. The two made the switch from Ajax to FC Twente this summer and have been active in Europe with the Tukkers from an early age. A long-term contract was ready for Regeer in Enschede, Ünüvar is rented. “Ajax did not want an option to buy”, the winger clarifies in conversation with TC Tubantia.
Ünüvar is currently the only left winger in the selection of FC Twente, but does not have to count on a base place for the time being. Trainer Joseph Oosting opts for alternatives such as Michel Vlap and Ricky van Wolfswinkel. It is also clear that there will be a new competitor for the Ajax mercenary. “I’m not afraid of competition. That’s part of it and that makes you stronger,” says Ünüvar. “I’m going to do everything I can to become a basic player.”
Ünüvar mainly hopes to deal with the image that he is a great talent that has not yet broken through. “People just like to stick stamps. I’ve never experienced all those stories as a burden myself and I don’t feel any extra pressure either. I don’t get tired of it when the outside world starts talking about it again. But I think this is the year is that I have to show it. I did super well in my last year at Jong Ajax and learned a lot last season in Turkey.”
For Regeer, the situation is different. He will not return to Ajax. “I had already made the choice for myself during the winter break that I wanted to leave,” said the midfielder. “I want to find the fun on the field in a different environment. And I think I have a much better chance of playing minutes here.” Regeer has no regrets about his departure, even now that many players have left and the chance of playing time was greater. I haven’t thought about it for a second.”
However, Regeer would have preferred to see it differently. “I extended my contract because I had talked about certain things with Erik ten Hag. But in the end he went to Manchester United. Then you get a new trainer (Alfred Schreuder, ed.), who says certain things to you. But in the end it is didn’t run as I had hoped and as the picture had been sketched from Ajax, so I quickly knew that I wanted to take another step.”