Eredivisie

Andre Onana has been linked with Manchester United, but the Cameroon international goalkeeper is happy to remain an Ajax player for the foreseeable future.

Onana wants to build on the tremendous season Ajax enjoyed in 2018/19, when the Eredivisie club reached the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League. The Amsterdam outfit also won the domestic title and lifted the KNVB Cup.

Yet despite the success, Onana still wants more, telling Voetbal International (h/t Robert Summerscales of MailOnline): "It is important to me that I play at a good level and that I can continue to develop. I am still young and with Ajax we have just proved how much we can achieve with this club. It will not be easy to surpass that. But I want to fight for new success with Ajax."

Those words should end links to United, even though Summerscales noted Onana is seen as a potential replacement for David De Gea. It would depend on if De Gea leaves Old Trafford during this transfer window.

Earlier in June, The Sun's Martin Blackburn reported how United were "impressed" with Onana and viewed him as a cheaper alternative to Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak. Blackburn noted how De Gea's contract is up in 2020 and a lucrative bid may tempt the Red Devils to cash in now.

De Gea has been a rock for United during a relatively lean spell for the club in recent seasons. Yet his familiar consistency deserted him at times last season with mistakes becoming common for the Spain international.

The 28-year-old was notably at fault when United lost 2-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium back in March. He misjudged the trajectory of a shot by Granit Xhaka from distance.

While De Gea appears to be on the slide, Onana is a stopper who has gone from strength to strength in recent years. The 23-year-old is continuing to thrive while representing the Indomitable Lions at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, keeping two clean sheets in as many games.

Onana committing his future to Ajax is good news for a club in danger of seeing many of its gifted youngsters move on. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong has already joined Barcelona and will be unveiled on July 5, according to Ivan San Antonio of Sport.

Meanwhile, centre-back Matthijs de Ligt is expected to join Serie A giants Juventus, per Goal's Romeo Agresti.

Keeping Onana between the sticks will help Ajax retain some of the strength at the back that defined their excellent season. It would also mean United need to get more creative when making any plans for possible life without De Gea.

Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek has said he is unsure whether he or team-mate Matthijs de Ligt will be at the club next season. 

The Dutch duo were exceptional for the Amsterdam giants in 2018-19, as they helped the team clinch a domestic double and make a surprise run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. However, both have been linked with possible departures in the current transfer window.

Van de Beek was asked about his situation and was coy on the prospect of a possible departure, per Peter Staunton of Goal.

"My situation is I have a contract with Ajax, and I am really happy," said the 22-year-old. "You never know what is going to happen in the future, but I can say nothing about that."

Staunton noted that both Manchester United and Tottenham have been linked with Van de Beek, who enjoyed a breakthrough season in the Dutch capital. As noted by Squawka Football, the midfielder was prolific throughout the campaign:

Donny van de Beek has scored 30 goals across all competitions for Ajax.

That's a lot of screaming. 😂 https://t.co/XwXR4QFnpx

— Squawka (@Squawka) May 1, 2019

Van de Beek grabbed the only goal in the Champions League first-leg win over Tottenham Hotspur, only for his side to be eliminated from the competition in the return fixture (U.S. only):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1123306126190239744

While there's only been a smattering of speculation regarding Van de Beek's future, when it comes to De Ligt the talk has been relentless. The defender's club and international team-mate said that he's unsure what team De Ligt will end up at.

"I don’t know," he said. "A lot of clubs want to buy him, I think so because he is a good player and now he has to choose for himself. Where he feels good, he has to go there."

According to Miguel Delaney of The Independent, Paris Saint-Germain are ready to offer massive money to the young defender to secure his signature, with a weekly wage in excess of £350,000 said to be on the table. Manchester United and Barcelona are also reported to be interested in the player.

Ajax have already agreed a deal to sell Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona this summer, meaning they will have to replace at least one key player in this window. With De Ligt's departure looking inevitable, a big rebuild appears to be on the cards.

With that in mind, Van de Beek is likely to be given more responsibility and with money in the bank from big sales, Ajax will be under no pressure to sell. Per football writer Cetin Cem Yilmaz, already the midfielder has showcased so many positive attributes:

I’m becoming a bigger fan of Donny van de Beek with every passing Ajax game. His movement, timing, reading of the space, tactical intelligence is beyond his years. And all the hard job he does, he makes it look so effortless. #AJATOT

— Çetin Cem Yılmaz (@cetincem) May 8, 2019

At the moment, he doesn't appear to be in a hurry to leave the Dutch giants either, and with another season of regular football at Ajax, he could become one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe.

As such, you sense it'd take an extraordinary offer in order for Ajax to agree to part ways with yet another of their brightest talents.

Barcelona are reportedly concerned that they've fallen behind Juventus, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in the chase for Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.

Having already agreed a deal with the Dutch giants to sign Frenkie de Jong, the Blaugrana have also been linked with his club and international team-mate. However, according to Moises Llorens and Sam Marsden of ESPN FC, Barcelona are now worried they may miss out on the 19-year-old.

"We can't move any more on what we've offered," said a source quoted in the piece. "One of the things that could benefit us is the player's desire to come here, but we will see if that really is what he wants in the end."

It's added that Barcelona have struck an agreement in principle with Ajax for De Ligt for around €75 million, but they've not yet settled on terms with the player or his agent, Mino Raiola.

As such, the likes of Juventus, Bayern and PSG are said to have been given fresh hope in their respective pursuits of one of the game's biggest rising stars. Raiola is said to be using the widespread interest in the player to try and push for an increased salary for his client.

Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague provided his insight into the De Ligt transfer battle:

Latest on #DeLigt. Three clubs in the short list. Ajax will not auction him as they will be happy with €60-70, his future depends only on him. #FCB the club that pays the least but hope other things will convince him -style, Messi, de Jong. More:

🎥 https://t.co/t1TOqhqAkm pic.twitter.com/uUV733LDSo

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) May 20, 2019

While Llorens and Marsden provided a negative outlook on the situation for Barcelona, according to Sky Sports the Blaugrana are still major favourites to secure the Ajax tyro. Manchester United and Liverpool are also noted as possible suitors.

The clamour to sign De Ligt is understandable, as he's on course to become one of the best players in the world. Already he's showcased incredible defensive skills at the highest level, helping Ajax reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals this season.

De Ligt also proved he could be a threat in the opposition box, scoring in the semi-final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and a crucial goal in the triumph over Juventus in the previous round (U.S. only):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1118265308207357952

Despite his age, De Ligt has also showcased remarkable leadership and delivered this impassioned speech to supporters at the team's recent celebration of their Eredivisie and KNVB Cup triumphs:

Beautiful words from @AFCAjax captain Matthijs de Ligt! 🔝 #CruyffLegacy pic.twitter.com/yIR28lAKcT

— Johan Cruyff (@JohanCruyff) May 16, 2019

Barcelona would benefit from a player like De Ligt, as they have looked defensively suspect at crucial points in the campaign. During their collapse against Liverpool in the Champions League, they lacked both the organisation and the leadership to see out the game.

De Ligt is not the finished article yet, although he has already shown enough to suggest he could make a big difference at the Camp Nou and potentially become an ideal successor to Gerard Pique. It appears any transfer will be far from straightforward at this point, though.

Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt has said he still needs time to consider his options and does not know whether he will move to Barcelona with team-mate Frenkie de Jong in the summer.

A 4-1 win over De Graafschap on Wednesday saw Ajax seal the Eredivisie title for the first time since 2014:

What a season.

❌❌❌ pic.twitter.com/IUuIbVgjHL

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 15, 2019

It is now expected their brilliant young side will be broken up in the summer. Midfielder De Jong has already signed a deal to join Barca, and De Ligt, 19, has been linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs, including the Blaugrana, Liverpool, Manchester United, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

However, he told Fox Sports there is no firm news on where he may be playing come the start of next season (h/t Dejan Kalinic of Goal):

"This is not the time to talk about my future. I don't know if I will go with Frenkie de Jong [to Barcelona]. I still have to analyse things and see everything. We'll see what happens. I cannot say anything. We'll see at the end of summer. There is nothing yet."

Ajax and De Ligt caught the wider attention of Europe this season with their extraordinary run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

They beat Juventus and defending champions Real Madrid on the way and were seconds from sealing a spot in the final before Lucas Moura's late goal for Tottenham Hotspur in the last four.

De Ligt impressed throughout the campaign, showing a maturity that belies his age and proving he could be one of the best centre-backs in Europe over the next decade:

"The one who they think can be the best in his position in the world is De Ligt."@RorySmith says Dutch football scouts rate De Ligt so highly, they think he can become the world's best centre back.

📲 Download the Football Daily: https://t.co/aqAKH5ZpCe #GER pic.twitter.com/4D8rLzVSpu

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) March 21, 2019

https://twitter.com/grahamruthven/status/1126201970023456770

The Barcelona link makes perfect sense given he boasts many of the attributes prized at the Camp Nou, most notably a fantastic passing range, and Gerard Pique is arguably no longer in his prime.

However, the Catalan giants will surely be challenged for his signature, as top-class central defenders are prized assets in modern football.

Ajax are likely resigned to the fact that they are going to lose De Ligt. But the Amsterdam outfit will be able to demand a substantial fee for him, as he still has a contract to 2021.

Dutch football club Telstar have sacked their player Jordie van der Laan after he attended the UEFA Champions League semi-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax, having initially told his team that he was sick. 

Per Chris Burton of Goal, Van der Laan made the decision to travel to London to watch Ajax against the wishes of his club but was caught on camera. After saying he was ill and then confirming his intention to go to the game, Telstar took the decision to terminate his contract.

Speaking to Ijmuider Courant (h/t Burton), the forward explained his thinking behind the decision:

"Of course I realise that it has been a very awkward situation. I had a conversation with Piet [Buter, technical director] last Thursday about the situation and in good harmony it was decided to separate.

"I called in sick because I was convinced that I would not be freed from the training. With this decision I took into account that with Telstar we were no longer playing for anything and I, given the number of playing minutes I have had in the recent period, had only a small chance of figuring against Jong PSV.

"In any case, I definitely would not have gone to London. However, I still stated before the Champions League match that I was not sick and was in London."

As Burton noted, Van der Laan posted on Twitter asking for a ticket for Wednesday's second leg in Amsterdam, as he would be "free after all" for the game. A journalist has agreed to take him to the match for a round of beer.

Ajax were 1-0 winners on the night, with Donny van de Beek's goal putting them within touching distance of what would be a shock final appearance at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on June 1 (U.S. only):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1123395957712879616

Telstar play in the second tier of Dutch football and finished their domestic season in 15th position, losing 2-0 to Jong PSV on Friday. 

Van der Laan signed for the club from DOVO in August 2018 but only made seven appearances in the Eerste Divisie before his recent departure.

Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt said that one of the keys to the team's success is that they don't rely on star players.

The Dutchman spoke after his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old centre-back gave insight into Ajax's methods to Sky Sport and did not class himself as a star player in the side (h/t Sport):

"We know each other really well. We always think about possession first, we're friends, we are always together and we don't have stars. 

"We are a team and that's our biggest strength. I wouldn't say I am a [star], I am a normal kid who is in the semi-finals, we played well and I am happy."

Some might disagree on De Ligt's self-assessment, given he's already the team's captain and led them to victories over Real Madrid and Juventus in the last two rounds.

Squawka's Muhammad Butt was impressed with his performance in north London against Spurs:

De Ligt has been ridiculously good. what an absolute colossus.

— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) April 30, 2019

Grup 14's Rafael Hernandez praised his leadership and Ajax's ability to work as a group:

De Ligt was caught out a few times but his command of the back line showed. Not a single Ajax player performed badly, they performed almost perfectly as a single unit.

— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) April 30, 2019

Lacking the injured Harry Kane and the suspended Heung-Min Son, Spurs managed just one shot on target at home against Ajax, who took the lead in the tie through Donny van de Beek after 15 minutes.

De Ligt added:

"We're really happy because it's really difficult to play against Tottenham, they're a great team.

"In the first half we did well, after that, [Spurs] changed in the second half and they grew. There are still 90 minutes to go and anything can happen." 

Van de Beek's goal was Ajax's 161st in all competitions this season, a record-breaking tally for a Dutch side.

Dusan Tadic has contributed to almost one third of them:

Dušan Tadić has played 51 games for Ajax across all competitions this season...

He's scored 3️⃣4️⃣ goals and assisted another 1️⃣9️⃣ 👏

Crazy numbers 🤯 pic.twitter.com/pDbEVB7blz

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 24, 2019

That would typically earn him star status in almost any other side, but Ajax, who have hit five or more in a single game on 11 occasions this season, spread their goals around.

He and Van de Beek are among six players to reach double figures for goals in all competitions, alongside Hakim Ziyech, David Neres, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Kasper Dolberg. All aside from the latter two are in double figures for assists too.

Behind them, De Ligt and Frenkie de Jong add composure and technical quality to their defence and midfield, respectively.

De Jong has already agreed to join Barcelona this summer, while De Ligt has frequently been linked with them, though he would not be drawn on his future: "I don't know, I am not thinking about that right now. I play football and later I'll see what happens."

Whether he joins Barca or not, it's difficult to imagine him staying at Ajax beyond the summer after announcing himself to Europe's elite so impressively this season.

The teenager may not consider himself a star yet, but it seems he's destined to become one. 

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has dismissed suggestions from Tottenham Hotspur counterpart Mauricio Pochettino that his side are favourites for their UEFA Champions League semi-final opening leg on Tuesday. 

Pochettino recently referred to the absences of injured Harry Kane and suspended Heung-min Son as cause to favour Ajax and told reporters the Dutch club calendar favoured the Eredivisie side. 

Ten Hag took umbrage with that assessment of the first-leg fixture, however, and said at a press conference on Monday that the difference in payouts between their respective leagues levelled the playing field:

"We get €10 million (£8.7 million) for playing in Eredivisie and they get many more millions for being in the Premier League. Is that not unfair on us?

"There are always differing circumstances. Everybody has different circumstances. You just have to deal with them. That's what we do."

Pochettino made his remarks before Spurs fell 1-0 at home to West Ham United on Saturday, a disappointing defeat they'll hope isn't a precursor to their meeting with Ajax in north London.

The Dutch outfit have defied the odds to knock Real Madrid and Juventus out of the knockout stages, and there is a sense it could be a rare opportunity for this particular class (U.S. only):

https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1122939237622411264

Kane's season is in doubt due to an ankle ligament injury, but advancing to the Champions League final would be one way for Spurs to give their star man a chance of returning before the campaign finishes.

Son is suspended for the visit of Ajax after picking up his third caution of the tournament in the second leg of their quarter-final victory against English rivals Manchester City.

To contrast Ten Hag's judgement over winnings against Ajax's English equivalents, 2016-17 Premier League champions Chelsea received more than £150 million in total winnings, per Goal's Ryan Kelly. Teams in the English top flight received close to £80 million each that season in TV distribution alone.

The tactician added Ajax have thrived through a combination of young, lesser-known talents and good recruitment of experienced players from foreign divisions, per TalkSport's Ian Abrahams:

Erik ten Hag says he bought in Daley Blind and Dusan Tadic with a view to bringing the experience to the squad to win big matches like this pic.twitter.com/aMUqRGc3Sw

— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) April 29, 2019

Both Daley Blind, 29, and Dusan Tadic, 30, had slumped at Manchester United and Southampton, respectively, but both boasted prior Eredivisie experience and have been smash hits for Ten Hag.

Pochettino sees his journey at Tottenham as a fairy tale of its own and recently illustrated how his side are exceeding expectations, via the Guardian:

Tottenham’s story won’t be repeated in football, says Mauricio Pochettino https://t.co/3efOMnH6Ou By @DaveHytner pic.twitter.com/Gr9PYnXFoL

— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) April 29, 2019

One could easily put Pochettino's comments down as little more than mind games ahead of such a crucial clash. Spurs failed to sign any players during the last two transfer windows and have succeeded despite the dearth of new arrivals.

Ten Hag doesn't appear willing to let Spurs steal the underdog title, however, as his side hope to capitalise on their hosts' torment by clinching a first-leg advantage at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ajax have been lighting it up in the Champions League but how hard is it to replicate that form on FIFA 19?

It is not easy, but if you follow these tips you can develop a team that can upset the big boys.

In the early days of January this year, with the Eredivisie in the middle of its winter break, Ajax boarded a plane and traveled to the United States to take part in the Florida Cup exhibition tournament. Besides preparing for the second half of the season, the exciting crop of youngsters from Amsterdam could relax and get some rest.

With fixtures against Brazilian powerhouses Flamengo and Sao Paulo on the schedule, Ajax winger David Neres was in high demand, with reporters from his homeland keen to catch a word with him.

However, any exclusive interview request with him came with it a direct warning from Ajax's media team.

"If you mention China, I'll take him out," said one of the officers in Orlando.

A €45 million offer for Neres was on the table from Chinese outfit Guangzhou Evergrande and the Brazilian winger was considering his options. At that time, the then-21-year-old wasn't on the best of terms with coach Erik ten Hag. Neres was finding it hard to accept a spell on the bench, especially after a standout performance against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

The club's fans seemed to be in his corner and launched a "Free Neres" campaign on social media.

Ajax, on the other hand, were pondering letting him go if they managed to secure Mexican teenager Diego Lainez from Club America. However, by the end of the January transfer window, Lainez chose to join Real Betis instead of Ajax, forcing sporting director Marc Overmars to refuse the mega-bid from China.

It proved to be turning point for Neres' season, and likely for his career.

"[If I had gone to the Chinese Super League] I think I wouldn't be here now because the Champions League gets you into the limelight," he admitted in a press conference with the Brazil national team in March.

Until then, regardless of his recent form, Neres had never been called up to an international camp.

It took so long for him to be noticed that some back home jokingly suggested Brazil's boss Tite must have thought he was Dutch and his actual name was "David van der Neres."

The football world knows his name now, though.

Alongside the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Dusan Tadic, Neres helped guide Ajax to their first Champions League semi-finals since the 1996-97 season. Tottenham Hotspur stand between them and a place in the final.

Arguably the most talented Brazilian to play in the Netherlands since Ronaldo in the 1990s, Neres was key in the historic 4-1 win against Real Madrid in the round of 16, scoring once and delighting fans with his skills. "Neres, we thank your mother," reacted a Dutch commentator after his masterclass at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

In the quarter-finals, facing Juventus, he netted once again, cutting inside and curling a fantastic finish into the top corner to level the score at 1-1 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. His shot kept hopes alive for Turin, and the rest is history. A 2-1 second-leg victory continued Ajax's fairytale run.

Neres' confidence has never been higher.

One of the most talked-about players in Europe right now, he has been unstoppable on occasions, showing he's more than a dribbler and improving his end product week in and week out.

Extravagant on the pitch, the No. 7 is usually a completely different person off it. He is very shy and reserved. Journalists who ask him questions in post-match mixed zones usually have to settle for monosyllabic answers.

He's starting to speak in English more often and has also developed a reputation in Amsterdam for beginning his reply to every question with "It's crazy."

He's improving, though, and getting more comfortable with the limelight.

When Neres reported to Brazil camp for a friendly against Panama in Porto, Portugal, in March, he was subjected to a tradition for newcomers inside the team. After dinner, he had to stand up on a chair, introduce himself and say a few words in front of his new team-mates.

And that was the moment he created a stir on his first call-up.

As he began his speech, mentioning people who had been important throughout his journey, he thanked his family, buddies, girlfriend and also dedicated a special word to Casemiro. A reference, of course, to the 4-1 thrashing of Real Madrid a few days previous. Everyone laughed out loud inside the room, except for Casemiro.

Neres revealed in an interview with Het Parool newspaper that the defensive midfielder looked angry and did not seem to have enjoyed the joke at all. He later apologised and cleared the air.

The skilful, pacey and agile Brazilian expresses himself much better when running into the box like he did against Real Madrid to finish off Tadic's outrageous assist for the second goal in Ajax's already iconic 4-1 success in Madrid.

Ajax paid €15 million to bring Neres to Europe in the winter of 2017 despite the fact that he had played just eight senior games for Sao Paulo.

That made him the club's second-most-expensive signing ever at the time, behind Miralem Sulejmani from SC Heerenveen in 2008. It suddenly became clear that pressure would come from everywhere.

A few months after his arrival, former midfielder Ronald de Boer wrote a column for Voetbal International (h/t UOL) arguing he was still not convinced about his purchase. At that same time, Neres was being branded overpriced by his own bosses. "We have just paid too much, we know that, in relation to other transfers, but we had been chasing him for a year already," Overmars admitted.

The potential was there, but something was still missing.

Fortunately, the phonebook of Ajax's chief executive Edwin van der Sar proved helpful at that moment.

"To be honest, they [Ajax] were not hopeful he would excel in the way he's doing now. Right in the first months, Van der Sar called me and asked me if I could come around to the training sessions and hang out with them. Neres was struggling a lot to adapt to the new culture, climate, language and playing system," Wamberto, a Brazilian former Ajax forward, tells Bleacher Report.

"Back then, I was spending some time in Russia with one of my sons, Wanderson, who is a defender for Krasnodar, and bought a flight ticket to Amsterdam right away.

"Neres plays more or less in the same position I used to play, so, among other things, they asked me to translate the tactical instructions for him. It was Van der Sar, Aaron Winter, who is now working as assistant coach, and me. A while after that, he started progressing and settling in at the club."

Even in Portuguese, Wamberto had a hard time initially figuring out how to get closer to Neres and winning his trust.

"In the beginning, he was a bit shy, didn't speak much—while I said 10 words, he would say one," adds the member of Ajax veterans' side, laughing.

At first, watching Neres' behaviour may give the impression that he's sullen and has a couldn't-care-less attitude, but one could not be more wrong.

He has gone through a lot in his life, having come from Perus, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in western Sao Paulo, with drugs and crime constantly lurking.

He used to share a small apartment with his parents and three siblings, but, a few years later, the right-winger moved into Sao Paulo's famed academy Cotia, arguably the most impressive finishing school in South American football.

He had everything a young player could possibly need there, and attended some of the best private schools in town, but that was also when problems started for him.

"He has a natural talent, but was perhaps too reserved and faced some prejudice while he was growing up. Being a kid from the outskirts of the city isn't easy if you are in a private school," says Marcelo Lima, a former Sao Paulo youth football coordinator, in an interview to B/R.

"He got involved in some fight at school when he was in our U16 age group and one of Sao Paulo's officers decided to send him back to his parents' house in Perus. I have no doubt the officer's main goal was to screw Neres' life, making it more difficult for him to attend classes and then getting him expelled from the club.

"One morning, Orlando [Ribeiro, coach] and me went to our director [Geraldo Oliveira, who passed away in 2017] and explained what was going on. He immediately ordered Neres to return to Cotia's facilities. So, this is the sort of thing he had to cope with. He was so quiet that he couldn't even stand up for himself in school."

When you face such situations, it's only natural to create a self-defense mechanism and become suspicious of those around you.

Perhaps, that's one of the reasons why when Brazil's head coach Tite called his phone to welcome him to the national team, he ignored it. Not recognising the number, Neres declined to answer, he told De Telegraaf last month.

Neres takes all calls from Lucas Fernandes, however.

A former Cotia graduate currently on loan at Portuguese side Portimonense, Fernandes is Neres' best friend in football. At Sao Paulo, some rated him higher than the Ajax winger, and the two of them dream about reuniting in Europe.

"He's one of the nicest guys I've ever known. It's a shame most people don't get to see this side of him. He's a bit reserved, quieter, a man of few words when he's around strangers. But he is the sort of person who values friendship and you can always count on," Fernandes tells B/R.

"How can you say anything negative of a kid who used to sleep with a teddy bear on his bed? It's impossible."

Fernandes had planned to watch Neres' brilliant performance against Real Madrid in person but missed the flight because a training session ran late.

"I still want to see him in action this season. Maybe in the Champions League final in Madrid. It would be a dream come true," he continues.

"It's amazing how much he has developed on and off the pitch. We've known each other since we were around 13 years old. Back then, he didn't even play in the forward line, he was sometimes used as a left-back, other times as a centre-back. But his dribbling has always been this exceptional."

If Fernandes does not see Neres lining up for Ajax this season, he might not get another chance.  

Living in a modern house in IJburg, an Amsterdam district built over a number of artificial islands, Neres likes to spend some of his spare time feeding the ducks from his deck, but he's looking forward to moving elsewhere.

Sources close to his representatives have told B/R that leaving Ajax at the end of this season looks extremely likely. However, it remains to be seen what his next destination will be.

After scoring 14 goals and providing 13 assists in the 2017-18 Eredivisie season, Neres told Goal in November that Borussia Dortmund and Roma came asking for him but were both turned down.

His Champions League adventures have won even more admirers and international recognition this term.

B/R understands Everton, Milan and Paris Saint-Germain have already held preliminary talks about a potential deal, with a big-money move away from the Johan Cruijff ArenA being discussed between the parties since February.

After refusing a €45 million offer from Guangzhou Evergrande in January, Ajax expect a large transfer fee for his services.

Before cashing in on Neres, though, the Dutch giants want the Brazilian to win his first professional title. Ajax are top of the Eredivise and also in the Dutch Cup final, but after knocking out Real Madrid and Juventus, the Champions League is the prize they covet most of all. Watch out, Tottenham.

Follow Marcus on Twitter: @_marcus_alves

Ajax are this season's football fairytale—a team with amazing ability and, seemingly, no boundary to their limitations.

They have become every neutral's favourite side. Their UEFA Champions League journey has brought joy and romance to a competition that can so often feel elitist and predictable.

At the start of this season, most fans outside of Amsterdam would have struggled to name their players, yet now they roll off the tongue. Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Hakim Ziyech, David Neres...the football world is falling in love with them.

They have knocked out Real Madrid and they have seen off Juventus. Next up, they face Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals.

So how did this happen? We know they have an incredible, rich history thanks to traditions ingrained in their DNA through the coaching principles of Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, but this reemergence has come very suddenly. 

They have not even won the Eredivisie since 2014, and their most recent European success came in 1995. We spoke to some influential and knowledgeable figures around the club to get an idea of how this young, fun crop of players from the Netherlands have stunned the giants of Europe. 

                   

BECOMING 'EUROPE-PROOF'

Trusting their academy talent is a great trait, but the vision has been altered in recent times to boost their chances of competing both domestically and on the European stage. 

@DuBlanqeBogarde is a well-informed Ajax pundit on Twitter, followed by both journalists and supporters. 

"International media have focused on the huge differences in budgets between Ajax and their opponents, which makes sense to a certain degree because the difference really is huge," he told B/R. 

"However, it's worth noting that Ajax has actually been investing quite heavily, compared to recent years and other teams in the Eredivisie. During last season, boss Erik ten Hag and director of football Marc Overmars made an analysis of the squad and tried to identify what was needed to make Ajax 'Europe-proof,' so to speak. 

"They realised they were missing some more experienced players in their late 20s, guys that know what it takes to win in international football and guys that still have something prove. That's why they spent big on Dusan Tadic and Daley Blind and increased wages to attract and keep good players. 

"Young talent alone is not enough, as talent needs guidance and leadership on and off the pitch." 

Jan Verdonk is an ardent Ajax supporter who never misses a game, and explained: "A changed financial situation in European football has changed things. I think Ajax has profited from the expansion of financial power at a lot of clubs in European football. For example, when Arkadiusz Milik went to Napoli for €34 million. I don't think this was possible 10 years ago. 

"It is also worth noting the changed contract policy for youth players. Ajax initially refused to give contracts to 16-year-old players—they waited until they were 17. Because of this, players like Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Javairo Dilrosun left the club. Ajax changed this policy a couple of years ago, which means 16-year-old talents do get a contract now. Less players leave the club now, and this really was an important decision."

                 

MANAGERIAL NOUS

Ten Hag arrived from Utrecht in 2017, and it has certainly not been plain sailing.

"I called him Bootleg Pep when he first started," admits DuBlanqeBogarde. "That was a joke, meant as a slight insult to a coach that, to me, felt like a poor man's Guardiola. I have to take it all back, because he actually is a tactical genius.

"His determination, vision and absolutely insane dedication in striving for perfection has given the players the tools they need to excel, without losing the freedom to trust their instinct and the feeling they're playing with their friends in the park on a Saturday afternoon.

"He demands 24/7 dedication of his players but isn't blind or deaf to their ideas—he even encourages it. Players and staff seem to have clicked in a way that creates a 'Yeah, we beat Juve 1-2, but it should have been 1-4' mentality, in a good way." 

Michael Bell of Football-Oranje.com hopes the coach begins to become more recognised. "He went into the campaign under some pressure—because he didn't really know his best 11," he told B/R.

"Frenkie de Jong wasn't even a guaranteed starter, and performances early on weren't great. However, I think the confidence the results in the Champions League group stage brought has been behind this run. They showed they could go toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich, and that has allowed them to play with no fear against the big sides.

"Ten Hag is not getting a lot of credit for his European record. With Ajax and Utrecht, he has only lost two out of 22 matches in Europe. A lot more should be getting said about how he has turned his tenure at Ajax around."

Ajax coach Erik ten Hag: "I watch Bayern play every weekend. Bayern have become my club. Since Pep, football in Germany is different, I looked at almost every training back then, and I took a lot of methodical lessons on how to transfer his philosophy to the pitch." [SZ] pic.twitter.com/RhHIFjOyXQ

— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) April 11, 2019

FITNESS LEVELS 

Part of Ten Hag's relentless pursuit of success focuses on making sure his best team is available to him. He leaves no stone unturned in making sure his players are given the best opportunity to be in top condition.

"If you look at our squad, you will notice it is rather small," explains Verdonk. "If one of our top guys gets injured, we will have a huge problem. Real Madrid missed Vinicius Junior and Sergio Ramos against us. If we would miss De Ligt and Tadic, I don't think we would be able to beat top clubs.

"Ten Hag really is the explanation of this, because he is maniacally looking at details. Every player has to rate his fitness after a training, and Ajax uses all kinds of technology to measure this. Because of this, players rarely get injured. It's really the only way we can be competitive in Europe. 

"For me, he is way better than Frank de Boer when it comes to vision and knowledge of scientific insights."

             

REALISING POTENTIAL

It was a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich in the group stage and then another tie, this time 3-3, with the German champions in Amsterdam that started to give the players and fans a sense of quite how good they really were.

Arco Gnocchi produces Ajax's Pantelic Podcast and recognises the blend of components that merged to form this brilliant side.

"Finally having this perfect mix between young, cheeky, daring, audacious, raw talent and players who are peaking has been so vital," he said. "All together they don't abide by the rules of upper-tier-level football.

"You're not supposed to pressure away at Real or Juve or Bayern. And normally, if you try, you get punished with a 5-0 trouncing.

"But every game, they seem to one-up their efforts to a level they're not supposed to be at. The learning curve is extremely, incomprehensibly steep. This is the first and last time they'll play together in this makeup/formation, and they know it."

              

Ajax get to rest up before they play Spurs 👀 pic.twitter.com/dsh2cKQMDG

— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 19, 2019

POSITIONAL FLUIDITY 

Guardiola teams are so often lauded for the front-line movement that baffles opponents, and Ajax have adapted the model to form their own brilliant game plans.

"I'm sure people by now have noticed we're playing without a striker, but it's been a brilliant move by Ten Hag," explains DuBlanqeBogarde. "The way Ajax is playing with so many players switching positions—especially upfront, with Neres, Tadic and Ziyech just doing whatever they like—you just know they'll create big chances, even against giants like Madrid or Juventus.

"Ajax never really changes their tactics or principles, but instead makes very small changes to the game plan. It's a style that creates a type of organised chaos that big teams aren't used to.

"Players drop deep, make dummy runs, create space for our midfielders and backs. When someone tries to close us down, they always run the risk of a deep through ball. It's just really hard to defend, especially in later stages of the game when you're getting tired and lose focus.

"Also take notice of how Neres, de Jong and Ziyech are never bothered by a failed dribble or something.

"When Frenkie's failed dribble in his own box against Madrid almost allowed Benzema to score, a journalist told him after the game: 'Don't do it again.' Frenkie replied: 'I will definitely do it again next time, but just a bit better.'

"That's this Ajax in a nutshell." 

                      

SHEER QUALITY

Of course, none of this would be possible without an underlying technical brilliance that allows the players to show such confidence.

"The team's ball ability is also very important," insists Ajax supporter Verdonk. "Until a couple of years ago, we had too many players who couldn't get the ball from A to B when they were under pressure. Right now, almost all our players dare to pass the ball forward, and they have the ability to dribble past opponents. Because of this, we are able to play as attractive as we are doing at the moment. 

"I don't think people really comprehend yet how unique Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt really are. These two are so good, and could be easily be among the top 10 Dutch players ever. To have them both at the same time at Ajax for me is fundamental for the current success. I think the Dutch national team could become world champions in the next 12 years because of them."

                     

INSPIRATION

Beneath all of these factors is a level of determination and drive that few, if any, other Champions League club can match.

Ajax's journey is about more than football results—it's about relationships, history and pride.

Kevin Suave of leading club platform AjaxTimes has been watching closely every step of the way and is in no doubt about the bonds that have helped this incredible bunch of footballers fulfil their potential.

"After the Europa League final defeat against Manchester United just two years ago, we lost most of our strongest players and the manager who finally had us playing authentic Ajax football again," he explained to B/R. 

"We had to start from scratch, with new players and a new manager—Marcel Keizer. Then in the lead-up to the new season, Appie happened."

Abdelhak Nouri—Appie to his friends—collapsed following a heart attack during a pre-season match with Werder Bremen in 2017. Tragically, he was left permanently brain damaged. 

"The whole situation has had such impact on the club," says Suave. "That wound will never heal. Some of the current Ajax players were best friends with Appie. They played with him throughout most of their academy years. Had promised each other to make it together. To reach the first team together. To bring glory to the club, together. It overshadowed everything. Football became a sideshow.

"Keizer was the man who had to deal with the aftermath of the Nouri incident but was sacked later in the season. That's when Erik ten Hag entered.

"He was mostly greeted with scepticism, because the fans' perspective had gone from incredibly optimistic for the Europa League final, to depressed over Nouri, no European football, no league title, nothing. 

"At the start of this season, Ten Hag still didn't have that much credit with fans nor pundits. He wasn't considered a good fit for Ajax by most people, but slowly turned that around.

"We aren't just doing well in the Champions League. We're also in the Dutch Cup final and on our way to winning our first Eredivisie title in four years. Things couldn't have been worse two years ago, but look at us now.

"A remarkable transformation and one helluva job. Ajax have always managed to build squads filled with talented and hyped youngsters who would go on to impress and create somewhat of a name for themselves, but as soon as we'd go up against teams like Real Madrid or Barcelona, we got slaughtered. The skill gap was just too big. 

"Most fans had already made peace with the fact we would never play a serious role in European football again. But now things are different.

"We have a special generation of talents compared with a number of well-rounded experienced players and a manager who—hugely inspired by Guardiola and Cruyff—knows how Ajax is expected to play.

"I have been in absolute awe during most of the Champions League knockout stage games. While I realise we are witnessing a unique group of very skilled players—this is Real Madrid and Juventus we are talking about. The way we managed to defeat them both—I am still speechless. This season is wonderful. Amazing."