Stije Resink is exactly the player Ajax needs in the six position. That is the opinion of the table guests Good morning Eredivisie op ESPN. The 22-year-old from Amsterdam impressed for FC Groningen on Saturday evening. In the home match against FC Volendam (3-0) he was important with two goals, while he is still interested by Ajax.
Hedwiges Maduro worked with Resink at Almere City and is full of praise for the controller’s development. ‘Fantastic to see. I think he’s a good player. We all see that, but he is also a nice and smart boy. I had the opportunity to work with him for a long time, including in the youth ranks, at Almere City. At that time he was already somewhat compared to Frenkie de Jong, in his style and of course for that level.’
“He has the qualities, he can make yards, pass well, stick to the ball,” Maduro continues about Resink. ‘He has become stronger in defense and has therefore become a more complete player.’
Mario Been is also very enthusiastic about the captain of FC Groningen. ‘It’s never back or backwards. He always tries to see the solution ahead and is also able to take balls away. He stands so well on his feet and moves so easily.’
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‘He basically has everything you need for that position. Then it is striking that this is only now being seen, while you could pick it up for very little at Almere City. That is the quality of good scouting,” said Been.
Henk de Jong is also present at the program and believes that Ajax should make an attempt for Resink. ‘If you compare this to Itakura, then I would dare. Itakura can then move back one position,” says the SC Cambuur trainer.
Hans Kraay Jr. sees Resink as the ideal controlling midfielder for Ajax. ‘It won’t be surprising if Taylor is sold and you invest half the amount in an excellent, young successor to Henderson.’
Finally, Kraay talks about Ajax mercenary Julian Rijkhoff, who is important for Almere City this season. ‘He really had a bad season at Jong Ajax. Then they said: are you going to become a big boy at Almere? That was nothing at all for the first seven games, but now he plays as number ten and has one deep run after another. In the last seven games he has been hitting them left and right.’
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Kraay sees Rijkhoff excelling with a lot of depth in his game. ‘He is cool in front of goal and has good technique. I think it (his rental period, ed.) was a very good move, instead of him playing for that protected Jong Ajax, where winning is not the most important thing.’
