Ajax youngster Naci Unuvar has insisted comparison between himself and Hakim Ziyech are wide of the mark, even if he thinks the Chelsea man is ‘fantastic’.
Naci is one of the rising stars of Ajax’s youth system, having worked his way up their youth ranks since 2018.
He’s currently one of the stars of the show for their under 21 side, with 17 goals and 13 assists in 56 games so far, including nine goals and seven assists in 18 games in all competitions this season.
He’s already made two appearances for Ajax’s senior side and scored his first goal for them, with it unlikely to be long before he’s starring for Erik Ten Haag’s side on a regular basis.
Because he plays as a winger, comparisons have already been made to former Ajax star Hakim Ziyech, who currently plies his trade for Chelsea.
The Moroccan was the jewel in Ajax’s crown during his four-year stint with the Dutch side, making 165 appearances for the club and racking up 49 goals and 81 assists in that time before his move to Chelsea last year.
Things haven’t been quite as easy for him at Stamford Bridge, but Unuvar is a big fan, even if he doesn’t really want to be compared to him.
“I think he is a fantastic player,” he told Voetbalzone.
“He is so decisive at Chelsea for a reason; he did a great job at Ajax as well. If you can look up to him, that’s great.
“I had a good relationship with him, so then you automatically pull together more. We’re not really the same type of player, but I’ve often heard and seen the comparison.”
