Ajax
In a football world dominated by financial might, they’ve emerged as a breath of fresh air – as their youthful stars prove giant-killers.
One player who characterizes their incredible rise is Daley Blind.
Brought back to his boyhood club at the start of the season for €16.3m (A$25m), the defender is the most expensive player in Ajax’s squad. At 29, Blind — alongside Lasse Schone and Dusan Tadic — is one of the elder statesmen of this team and has proved his value time and again this season.
After four years with Manchester United, he was sold back to his former club and now he’s progressed further in the Champions League than them.
“He has been a hero throughout this campaign,” commentators said of Blind.
“50 games. You’d never think given his troubles at Manchester United, where he hardly featured in his last year, that he’d feature in 50 games at the top level in a single season.
He’s led by example, he really has. He’s been a big help to De
At United, Blind was an afterthought.
Brought to the club by Louis van Gaal, by the time of his exit no one really knew what his best position was. In the Premier League, he played defensive midfield, left back,
United would arguably be regretting their decision to let him go, especially as he celebrated a semi-final berth on the same day they were dumped out embarrassingly by Lionel Messi and Barcelona. Fans joked on Twitter that he took a step up with his move.
Cristiano Ronaldo cost Juventus €112m (A$176m). Blind cost roughly eight times less. The latter will be playing in a Champions League semi-final.
Two years ago, Ajax met United in the Europa League final. The Dutchman lined up at centre back for the Red Devils against his current employers, and was on hand to lift the silverware in a 2-0 victory.
In the years since, the Eredevisie side has spent €19.45m (A$30M) in the transfer market. The Premier League outfit has spent €200.25m (A$315m) .
Only one is in the final four.