Justin Kluivert has asserted that he’ll call time on his time at Ajax in the summer, amid widespread links with Manchester United.
In an interview with RTL 7’s Voetbal Inside programme, Justin Kluivert has responded to speculation linking him with a summer move to Manchester United. The Ajax wonderkid has insisted that he has not spoken to Jose Mourinho about a possible switch to Old Trafford, and a move is unlikely.
Kluivert is the son of Dutch football great Patrick Kluivert, who himself was a graduate of the fabled Ajax academy. The teenager joined the club’s youth setup as an 8-year-old, gradually progressing through the ranks before breaking into the first-team setup last season.
Since then, Kluivert has slowly gone about establishing himself as a key member of the young Ajax squad. This season, the player has made 23 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch outfit, with a return of six goals and three assists to show for his efforts.
Justin Kluivert is a different individual ?
pic.twitter.com/SSL5bUymK5— Juve Assassinn™️ (@SSIIIIUUUU) February 4, 2018
While it may not be particularly impressive, it is important to note that the player is still just 18-years-old, and is still in the early stages of his career. But, Kluivert has been impressive enough to attract interest from one of the biggest clubs in the world, with Manchester United reportedly interested.
The links to the Premier League giants have been rampant ever since they beat Ajax in the UEFA Europa League final last season, when Jose Mourinho had a pre-match talk with the teenage prodigy. It is believed that the Manchester United boss had made overtures then, and the Red Devils are set to initiate talks over a possible move.
The interest from Manchester United does come as a bit of a surprise, considering they only recently secured the services of Alexis Sanchez. Despite the Chilean’s arrival though, the club are still reportedly in the market for an attacker, with Kluivert one of the targets. But, the player has come forward to deny the links.
“There will always be rumours, but not all is true. I know as little as you guys do. I get that question a lot of course, but he [Mourinho] did not say anything like that in the last match against United. There are always rumours. We all know that. Manchester has never come into the picture and it also is not a logical move.”
The comments suggest that the player is focused on growing at Ajax, placing priority to player regular first-team football at this stage of his career, than sharing game time at an illustrious club like Manchester United. The Red Devils, meanwhile, will have to put their hopes of signing Kluiver on the back burner for now.