Mike Verweij expects that Ajax will finally say goodbye to . The wing defender switched from AZ to Ajax in the summer of 2022, but left on loan to Antwerp FC after a disappointing season. Although Wijndal plays many matches in Belgium and has made an excellent impression at times, Verweij expects that Alex Kroes finds bringing back the eleven-time Dutch international too big of a risk.
In the summer of 2022, Ajax paid ten million euros for Wijndal, who arrived in Amsterdam as a replacement for Nicolas Tagliafico, who had left for Olympique Lyonnais, and had to compete with Daley Blind. Wijndal initially gained the confidence of then trainer Alfred Schreuder, but soon disappeared from the starting eleven. The left back struggled with his fitness during his first season in Amsterdam and when he was given the opportunity, he often did not give up. That was no different in the preparation for this season. Ajax decided to rent him out to Antwerp FC at the last minute of the transfer window.
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He has played 36 games for that club to date. Wijndal will normally return to Ajax after this season, where he still has a contract until mid-2027. Verweij nevertheless expects that Kroes will try to sell the defender. “They will also have to make decisions about players returning and I think ultimately the decision will be made not to bring Wijndal back, but to try to sell”says Verweij in the Kick-off podcast The Telegraph. “I think Beuker and De Lang were enthusiastic, but I think Kroes simply thinks the risk is far too great to bring him back. Wijndal of course also went to Antwerp with not very good, or actually few, matches in his legs. He did well there, played a lot, but that risk is also too great.”
Wijndal had to miss three matches while working for Antwerp FC: two due to a muscle injury, one due to a suspension. However, Verweij does not think that the defender’s injury history is the reason why Kroes will try to sell him. “If Wijndal plays poorly in two matches at Ajax in the new season, he will be kicked out”, that’s what it sounds like. Maurice Steijn, who resigned earlier this season, already revealed at the beginning of September that Wijndal was not in his plans. De Hagenaar left the left back out of his selection for the away match against Fortuna Sittard on September 3. Two days later, Ajax reported that Wijndal had left for Antwerp FC on a rental basis.
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