How Daley Blind bucks the system at Ajax

But a 28-year-old Dutchman at the peak of his powers shouldn’t be playing in the Eredivisie, should they?

Ajax are famed for their conveyor belt of talent, that now sees their better players leave before the age of 21. They don’t tend to return until their best days are behind them.

In recent times Justin Kluivert, Davinson Sanchez and Jasper Cillessen have all left for some of the best clubs in Europe.

Ajax were desperate to shift 24-year-old club captain Davy Klaasen in 2017 as he was blocking the wheel from turning.

But Blind is such a likeable figure wherever he plays, that it’s actually helping youngsters Perr Schuurs and Mathhijs De Ligt to develop even quicker.

What next?

Blind’s consistency at centre-back has helped Ajax to their first Champions League knock-out game in nearly fifteen years.

Whilst Ajax may come unstuck in this tie, from the board’s perspective their job’s already done.

Frenkie De Jong is on his way to Barcelona and the likes of De Ligt and Kasper Dolberg could soon follow.

But Blind will again usher in a new generation with Schuurs being readied for first team football.

The former United man is an anomaly in the Ajax wheel of fortune, but as long Blind continues to prosper and help the younger players, then it’ll all be worth it.

Click here for the latest Ajax v Real Madrid odds

Big match previews, betting tips and transfer news – Coral has it all.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing