Juventus must sign Ibrahim Afellay in January
Ibrahim Afellay is a Dutch football player currently playing for Dutch Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven. Afellay was born to Moroccan parents in the city of Utrecht. Afellay grew up idolising the living legend that is Marco Van Basten. Afellay made his league
debut when he was just 17 years of age. The player had all the ingredients of becoming a legend. Afellay set tone for a prosperous career by winning the Johan Cruyff young player of the year award in 2007. In a country where clubs take pride in grooming raw
talents into world beaters, the Cruyff award is a highly esteemed one. Needless to say, Ibrahim had become a highly sought after prodigy with his win.
Following an explosive start to his career, Afellay failed to live up to expectations. His next two seasons were mediocre at best. Afellay would feature regularly for the Oranje but most of his International caps were cameo appearances. Where once Afellay
was a prize all the continental against were running after, by 2009, Afellay had become ‘just another flop’ in the eyes of the media. To his credit however, Afellay has overcome a tough period in his career. With media eyes of his back, the PSV winger has
slowly sorted his act out.
Against Sweden on Tuesday night, Afellay showed just what he is capable of with a breathtaking display of wing wizardry. The winger scored twice and set up Huntelaar with sensational assist. Swedish fullback Mikael Lustig was made to look like a school kid
by an Afellay in full flow. It is really hard to believe that a player of Afellay’s talent had failed to score a single goal for his country in his previous 29 outings. The PSY winger isn’t getting complacent in all the deserved praise he is receiving, “Yes
I admit it. It was probably my best game in an Oranje jersey and now I must look to continue playing like this”
PSV now has a long list of suitors waiting to pounce on any opportunity to sign the winger. The Dutchman is a highly sought after player in the peninsula in particular with likes of Juventus, Fiorentina and Genoa all lining up a bid for his services. Afellay’s
contract is set to expire on June 30th next year and the player has reportedly rejected a contract renewal. His wage demands are too much for a side playing in the Dutch league.
Juventus woes in their winger department are well documented. Where Milos Krasic is a real class act on the right wing, the left side of midfield is still lacking in quality as Simone Pepe is average at best. Bianconeri coach Luigi Del Neri is already trying
to work out a move for the next summer. With Afellay on the left and Krasic on the right, the club will have a lethal wing pairing and Del Neri is already rubbing his hands in anticipation. Since the player will be available on a free transfer next year, every
club on the continent will be after his signature thus making it extremely difficult for Juventus. The Bianconeri directors are trying to sign the player as soon as January next year to avoid competition. PSV has reportedly set a price tag of 10 million Euros
on the highly rated winger; an amount Juventus should have no issues paying.
Afellay was reported as saying that he would like to play for Real Madrid or Manchester United. His interest in playing in the Premiership was highly publicised in the past. Afellay has now dismissed such rumours, “It’s true that both the clubs are ambitious
just like me but I never get ahead of myself”
His most recent comments indicate he is open to a move to Italian Serie A. Juventus should pounce on the opportunity on the earliest. By waiting for the summer, Juventus will run the risk of losing out the player to another club. With other option being
Simone Pepe, Juventus have no choice but to go for the deal in January. The dearth of quality wingers on the continent, a transfer fee of 10 million Euros will be nothing but peanuts in the long run.
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