While most of us at the age of 19 are preoccupied with obtaining a diploma or an A-Level cert, Justin Kluivert is busy setting Europe alight with his performances for Ajax Amsterdam. As an athlete Kluivert is blessed with a genetic stepladder to reach the top although that could be thanks to his father; Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert.
While his father was a striker, Kluivert junior is a speedy winger with bags of tricks that could leave any defender on his bum. Club legends at Ajax believe the youngster has a bright future and is tipped for bigger things and they feel he could even surpass the achievements of his famous father. In the Eredivisie this season he netted ten goals and five assists while having a pass accuracy of 87%.
Naturally some of Europe’s elite clubs have taken note and a protracted transfer saga has emerged in recent weeks with the winger making a shock announcement, stating his wish to leave the Dutch giants. Reports have stated that Ajax themselves have contributed to the strained relationship by attempting to broker his sale to Tottenham Hotspur without informing him. His opportunistic agent Mino Raiola has entered the fray and will look to capitalise on this uncertain situation.
For Kluivert this will be a crucial moment in his fledgling career but it is best he stays in the Netherlands. In recent times, players from the Dutch’s top-flight have made the mistake of leaving the country without a complete footballing education. In the past the country’s best players would remain in Eredivisie until they have peaked and only then will they move abroad.
For example, Dennis Bergkamp left Ajax for Inter at the age of 24 while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar left for Real Madrid at the age of 26. However today’s climates sees talented teenagers leaving Netherlands and without a safe haven they turn out to be flops. Memphis Depay, Ryan Babel and Andy Van Der Mayde are just some example of those who were hyped as the next big thing but all failed to deliver. As of this moment, Kluivert wearily threads a similar path.
But in the wider context, this problem is symptomatic of the troubles afflicting Dutch football as a whole. Kluivert must learn from the mistakes of his counterparts and continue his career in his native land. Should he leave and the consequences are disastrous, not only Ajax but Netherlands will have lost a top footballing talent. This is something the country cannot afford especially as it looks to rebuild its national team. Ajax and Kluivert must act now to salvage the situation or it could be Mino Raiola who has the last laugh.