Ten Hag denied Ajax reunion chance despite Man Utd transfer getting green light

16 May 2023 , 22:48

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Ten Hag denied Ajax reunion chance despite Man Utd transfer getting green light

Teenage winger Amourricho van Axel Dongen has signed a new contract with Ajax after links of the player being reunited with former boss Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

Ten Hag left Ajax for Manchester United last year after spending five years as the Dutch side’s head coach. While the success of his spell in charge is usually defined by the trophies he won – three Eredivisie titles and two KNVB Cups – his stint can also be measured by the number of players he developed.

Once such player was Van Axel Dongen, who worked his way through the Ajax academy since joining the club in 2013. Eight years later, he was awarded the Abdelhak Nouri trophy as the best talent of Ajax's youth academy.

Then aged 17, the player was introduced in place of Antony – now with Ten Hag at United – for the final five minutes of a 3-0 away win over Utrecht. His contract in Amsterdam had been due to expire this summer with the player previously suggesting he would like to link-up again with Ten Hag.

“I will remain eternally grateful to him for giving me the opportunity as a young player to play football with players like Antony and Dusan Tadic,” he told Voetbal Zone back in September.

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“I think it’s great to see that things are going a bit better with Manchester United; I really wish him that. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to speak to him since his transfer to United, but who knows, our paths may cross in the future.”

Amourricho van Axel Dongen has penned a long-term contract at Ajax (Patrick Goosen/Getty Images)

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Van Axel Dongen’s contract had been set to expire in June and United were understood to be monitoring his situation. However, he has now penned a four-year contract extension with Ajax through to the summer of 2027.

Ajax confirmed the news via a statement that the promising winger’s future remains in Amsterdam. Their statement adds: “After the summer break, he will join the Ajax 1 squad.”

Manchester United’s priority position for strengthening this summer is for the central striker. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is one such target with fears that a move for Harry Kane of Tottenham will not be able to come to fruition.

United scouts attended Napoli’s Champions League clash against Milan last month, when the Nigerian found the net but it was not enough for his side to progress in Europe but Osimhen’s goals fired the Italian club to their first league title in 33 years. The 24-year-old is highly regard by United transfer chiefs and he heads the club’s striking shortlist.

Colin Millar