Kodai Sano: Ajax Transfer & Difficult Period

Kodai Sano has responded for the first time to his failed transfer to Ajax. The Japanese trendsetter reached a personal agreement with the Amsterdam team, who, however, failed to convince NEC to let him go. The midfielder acknowledges that he would have liked to take a step.

“Things are going well, but I have received a number of offers,” Sano begins on the NEC club channels. “The past ten days have been a difficult period for me. But I had a conversation with NEC. My mind is now free and I just have to keep going. That’s why I feel good.”

“I would also like to thank everyone who made me an offer recently.” In addition to Ajax, VfL Wolfsburg, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest were also specifically interested in the 22-year-old Sano. “I’m still young. I can’t say I can completely shut myself off from it.”

“But I am a professional football player, so I just have to deliver on the field. But if I was not on the field, it was difficult,” says Sano, who would have liked to go to Ajax, partly because of the upcoming World Cup. “The World Cup is my biggest dream.”

“That’s why I realize how important this season is. I still have a chance to be selected. To achieve that, I have to play a lot of matches and gain experience. I want to make my dream come true.” Sano has played one international match for Japan’s main squad so far. He made his debut in October last year.

“As I said, I have had conversations with different clubs. I have told them how I feel and they have also told me how they feel.” Sano still wants to take a step in the summer. “I came to NEC to ultimately take the next step. That is why I think a lot about my career path.”

“I understand how important the next step is, that’s why I think about it a lot. I can still make the step in the summer. That was already possible last summer and winter. A transfer is never easy, that’s why I understand my situation and I understand the club.”

For now the focus is on the rest of the season with NEC. “So far we are doing well. I don’t know how things will go, but maybe we can achieve success. That is our goal.” Sano also mentions the KNVB Cup. Two years ago, NEC and Sano lost the cup final 1-0 to Feyenoord. “That’s why I want to win the cup this year.”