Ajax team-mate Owen Wijndal is confident that Steven Bergwijn can still become one of the best wingers in Europe despite his difficult run of form after leaving Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, speaking to ESPN.
Given that Bergwijn blossomed into arguably the most fearsome forward in the whole of the Eredivisie during his time at PSV Eindhoven, the expectation was that the Dutch international would pick up where he left off when returning home last summer.
But, after scoring just once in his last 19 games, the club-record £26 million deal that brought Bergwijn to the Johan Cryuff Arena is starting to feel more overpriced by the week.
“In attack, Steven Bergwijn is very disappointing,” sighs Ajax legend Wim Kieft.
“Bergwijn is now a 25-year-old. He has had an adventure in the Premier League. So you can expect more than what he has shown at Ajax so far. Demand even more, because he is a player who was signed from Tottenham Hotspur for more than 31 million euros.
“He has it in him, but you don’t see it at all at Ajax. He lacks the will and drive to give everything to get the best out of himself. Bergwijn has to think about himself.”
Can former Tottenham forward Steven Bergwijn succeed at Ajax?
Bergwijn is not the only summer signing struggling to win over the expectant Ajax fanbase; the first summer of the post-Erik ten Hag and Marc Overmars era bringing about far more misses than hits. Wijndal, a £9 million signing from AZ Alkmaar, has found the going tough too.
But Wijndal is confident that, once things settle down in Amsterdam, he can forge a fearsome understanding with Bergwijn on the left-hand side.
“Of course, many things still need to be improved,” Wijndal begins. “But I think we feel good about each other. We are certainly the best in the Netherlands.
“If we really accelerate, maybe (we can become the best in) Europe.”
Ajax have been a team transformed since former Everton and Fulham defender John Heitinga was appointed interim coach; winning three consecutive Eredivisie games with an aggregate score of 13-1. But, unlike Brian Brobbey, Dusan Tadic and Mohammed Kudus, Bergwijn is yet to really feel the benefit of a fresh start under a new coach, his barren run continuing.
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