Pierre van Hooijdonk would have preferred Mohamed Ihattaren not to go to Ajax. The analyst of Studio Football is critical of Juventus’ attacking midfielder, who in his eyes is being rewarded for bad behaviour. “Does someone have to take care of him, just because he can be a gifted football player?”, Van Hooijdonk wonders.
Ajax and Juventus are approaching an agreement on the transfer of Mohamed Ihattaren, reported The Telegraph Monday. It is not yet clear whether this is a rental deal or a permanent transfer. “I understand Ajax, because it is interesting from a business point of view,” said Van Hooijdonk. “But on the other hand, I think it is a shame, because his behavior is now being rewarded in a way. I would have preferred that he did not join FC Utrecht, but that he had gone to FC Dordrecht for my part. Then he should have gone.” show what kind of mentality he has, because then it is intrinsic motivation that comes in. Now it is said: ‘Someone has to take care of him.’ Listen, at PSV they have done that to the fullest. He has to do it himself.”
Ibrahim Afellay fully agrees. “In his case, you should no longer talk about FC Utrecht, Ajax or any other club,” said the former midfielder in the talk show. “It’s about being aware that he wasn’t doing well and that he has to do it completely differently. He has to look for it in himself. He is a privileged person and is living a boyhood dream.”
Afellay does not want to say whether Ihattaren would do well to go to Ajax. “It’s not about a club,” the former international repeats. “He has a lot of potential, that’s not the discussion. It’s about learning to live like a pro. You can’t have a club or position if a player is not even fit yet? I understand that Ajax has him because he has a lot of potential. It’s about being able to make the switch and start at zero.”