Arco Gnocchi would like to see Marten de Roon at Ajax, the podcast maker says in the Grab Scale Podcast by Football International. The idea is supported by editor-in-chief Freek Jansen, who believes that Ajax fans should not be spoiled at the moment about an experienced midfielder from Atalanta. De Roon has a contract in Bergamo that expires in the summer of 2024.
The podcast hosts conclude that Ajax needs experience, including in midfield. “Now a lot of people are going to turn off this video or their earphones very angrily, but I would really like to see De Roon in terms of experience and position,” said Gnocchi.
Jansen does not think De Roon is a strange option for Ajax at all. “Let’s be honest. An Ajax player currently has no right to dislike a super stable midfielder from Atalanta Bergamo, who is also an international player for the Dutch team. When you see what’s going on there now…”
“It is a different exit that you take,” Jansen continues. “But such types… If only you had a ‘number 6’ like Marten de Roon.” When Gnocchi also suggests Manchester United left back Tyrell Malacia, Jansen slams on the brakes. “Malacia? But that is the category where I think: would now like to return to the Netherlands?”
According to Jansen, Ajax must act bravely in the transfer market. “I agree, we can shoot down everything, almost every option, but you have to do something.” The journalist knows that Ajax also worked this way in the recent past. “Not last summer, because then they brought players from everywhere and nowhere.”
“But Ten Hag also did the same during his Ajax period, with Overmars,” Jansen continues. “First look at which Dutch footballers and players with experience abroad, who are feasible and of added value. Then in the Netherlands and only then will you look abroad. You just know: Dutch players don’t need any adjustment time. You now need reinforcements in the short term.”
De Roon
De Roon, who according to Transfer market is still worth 10 million euros, seems financially feasible for Ajax given his contract situation. The 32-year-old controller from Zwijndrecht, who partly received his youth training at Feyenoord, has played no fewer than 312 official matches for Atalanta over the past six seasons. De Roon managed to score 17 goals and deliver 22 assists, but above all made an important contribution to the resurrection of the Italian club.