Mo Ihattaren could make his debut for Young Ajax tonight against NAC Breda. The 20-year-old former top talent has been included in the match selection for the first time by coach John Heitinga.
Since his arrival in Amsterdam, it has remained anxiously quiet around the midfielder. According to coach Erik ten Hag, he was not yet fit enough. Ihattaren has been working hard on this for the past three months.
“Physically he is not yet in such a position that he can already join the group,” said trainer Erik ten Hag prior to the match against SC Cambuur (2-3 win). “And mentally? It’s tough for a boy like that, but he comes from somewhere. He got into it through a certain lifestyle and will now have to fight himself out. We all help him, but in the end he has to do it yourself.”
342 days
The last time Ihattaren played a match was 342 days ago. On April 24 last year, he participated for ten minutes in the match between PSV and FC Groningen. After he clashed with PSV coach Roger Schmidt, the talent was sold to Juventus, who immediately rented him out to Sampdoria. In Italy it never became a happy marriage, so Ajax picked him up.
Ajax rents Ihattaren from Juventus until the end of the year with an option to buy.