“You have problems this year”

Marco van Basten advises Jurriën Timber to stay with Ajax for at least another year. During the program Rondo van Ziggo Sport the center defender of the team from Amsterdam is a guest to talk about the current season and about his (near) future. Van Basten offers sincere advice and tells Timber to think carefully about a possible move abroad.

“You have to go to a club where you are sure you will play,” says Van Basten, who looks Timber straight in the eye when his future is discussed. “You should not go somewhere where you are only allowed to participate, but to a club where you are also decisive. You have to give yourself that certainty. You also have to be stable in your private life. So, for example, if you are not yet with your girl live together and you have to go abroad alone… I would advise against that.”

“Look, you’ve been playing at Ajax for just three years,” the analyst continues. “I think it is really very important to lay a foundation at Ajax, so that you can then go abroad properly. You have to be sure that you do not become a reserve player there. The dressing room of every club abroad looks at you in a way like: show it off then. If your teammates don’t feel they’re getting better with you, then they’re all against you. You’re the ‘intruder’ in the end.”

“You can already see this year how difficult it is when you have to do it all on your own. You were now among other defenders who were not so good and now you have a different year than last year. Last season you were good, but now you have a lot of problems. Abroad they think: for you two others. You think you can earn money there just as well, but you just have to play. You have to make sure that you have your affairs in order physically, mentally, privately and technically You have to be an added value. I would really advise you to gain another year of experience in the Netherlands and only look further when you have had a good season,” concludes Van Basten.