Ajax broke their transfer record and parted with £ 20.5million to sign West Ham United striker Sebastien Haller in January, only to mistakenly leave him out of his Europa League squad three weeks later.
The Dutch team’s biggest signing of the season, Haller got off to a good start at the Johan Cruyff Arena collecting two goals and four assists in his first six Eredivisie games, helping Ajax open up a lead of seven points at the top of the table.
You would have thought Ajax would make sure Haller was part of their Europa League squad for the rest of the season, but sort of, This does not happen.
UEFA has released a list of all the changes to the Europa League squads, and for Ajax, the squad’s only new face in Sevilla, Ousama Idrissi, despite the fact that two places have been released with the departures from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Victor Jensen.
In a statement to AD, Ajax spokesman Miel Brinkhuis said: “He is indeed not on the list, we are trying to find out what is wrong. We contacted the KNVB and UEFA. “
A job, Ajax. You only had one job.
There is now a race against time to get that sort (or at least try to). Erik ten Hag’s side are set to face Lille in the first leg of their knockout fixture on February 18, and as it stands, Haller will not be allowed to join the party.
That’s all Football manager player’s nightmare, and things go from bad to worse for Ajax as FM prodigy Brian Brobbey has confirmed he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The 19-year-old made six appearances for Ajax’s first team, scoring two goals and adding another assist, and he was the player of confidence to start the crucial Champions League game in December with Atalanta.
“We think it is a shame that he is leaving and that we have done everything to keep him at Ajax longer,” manager Marc Overmars said on the club’s official website. “He chose to play football elsewhere after the summer. It’s hard for me to accept, but it’s his decision. Brian is still under contract with us for a few months, if we need him the coaches will call on him. ”
A few difficult days for Ajax.
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