The Moroccan playmaker is moving to the Premier League with Chelsea and won’t play for the Amsterdam giants again. A real sad end to his Ajax career.
Hakim Ziyech has clarified the “bizarre” feeling of being unable to say a proper goodbye to Ajax before his movement into Chelsea.
The 27-year-old’s time in Amsterdam has been cut brief by the choice to finish the Eredivisie year with no champion being crowned – a decision Ziyech branded”bullsh*t”.
Ziyech spent four years in Ajax after previous spells at Twente and Heerenveen, but the next time he takes to the area is likely to be in blue.
“This is not how I wanted to finish the year and say goodbye to Ajax, obviously,” Ziyech informed Voetbal International.
“I, and most of us around the club had something good in your mind for the coming months. That is not occurring and that’s really unfortunate.
“I knew that it was over when [Dutch PM Mark] Rutte stated there will be no soccer until the first of September.
“I wanted to finish my time here in a good manner, with a championship title.
“On the flip side, I immediately accepted it because there is clarity today.
“It is bizarre. I’m quite relaxed, to be truthful. I try to keep busy and never give over to the crisis.
“Everybody should attempt and keep doing what he or she is supposed to do. I do this by training daily. By doing this I need to be certain that I’m ready to provide on the field the moment this is all behind us”
Ziyech could at least take some solace from the fact his final game at the club was a win, together with Erik ten Hag’s unwanted triumphing 3-1 away to Heerenveen on March 7.
“Thankfully, we won,” he said. “That was it for me Ajax. The end. Weird, though.
“I believe you’re right once you state it was a remarkable experience. I managed to experience fantastic things at Ajax and some less nice things.”
Ajax were level with AZ when the season was ended, although they were the top of the Eredivisie table thanks to their superior goal difference.
