Towards the end of the summer window, Edson Álvarez emerged as a target for Chelsea.
Reports in the Dutch press indicated the Blues made a €50m bid to Ajax to secure his services, and it was also explained the midfielder had urged the club to accept the proposal.
However, Chelsea’s efforts weren’t entertained as the Eredivisie winners turned down their proposal for the midfielder.
On September 1st, De Telegraaf reported the Mexico international skipped training in order to force a move to the Premier League club.
Ajax told Thomas Tuchel’s side a transfer was not negotiable, which was also informed to the player and his agent, after which Álvarez was left angry with this decision since Chelsea were one his dream clubs.
“That boy can earn ten times as much, is a Mexican who goes to Chelsea, so he gets a status if he plays there,” Van der Gijp said, as quoted by Ajax ShowTime.
“And there [Chelsea] they are crazy now, because they have a new owner, that American who is totally crazy. They started badly and he just buys Álvarez as a backup for Kante who is 31 and often injured.”
Van der Gijp is of the belief it was a one-time opportunity for the Mexican to join Chelsea.
“That club is no longer coming [back]. They are in a panic and they have an owner who is not in his right mind. They’re just doing something at the moment,” he stressed.
“If you can earn €7m in two years at Ajax and he can earn €50m there in 4 years… you can’t do that to a boy like that.”
