Hans Kraay Jr is hugely irritated by Ajax duo: ‘Truly unbelievable’

Hans Kraay junior has hit out at Marcos Leonardo and Viktor Tsygankov in his column for Voetbal International. Ajax's two signings have looked a long way from fit in their first spell in Amsterdam.

Leonardo, who joined from Al Hilal for €20 million, has faced criticism for weeks. The Brazilian striker is missing plenty of chances and, for the time being, appears to have lost the battle for a starting place to Tolu Arokodare.

Tsygankov arrived from Girona for €4 million in the final days of the transfer window and made his Ajax debut last Saturday. He played for about half an hour against PSV.

It did not go well. Tsygankov visibly struggled with the high tempo in the top clash and looked particularly poor in the decisive 1-3 by Esmir Bajraktarevic. The Ukrainian first lost the ball clumsily and then made quite a few defensive errors as well.

Watching on, Kraay junior could hardly believe it and reached a painful conclusion for Tsygankov. "The 34-year-young Steven Berghuis currently looks quite a bit fitter than Viktor Tsygankov."

He then fumes: "What is it, actually, that some players, such as Marcos Leonardo and Tsygankov, dare to turn up at their new club unfit?" "Truly unbelievable."

Kraay is, incidentally, positive about signings Julian Brandt and Tolu. "Jordi Cruyff has opened his wallet wide and against PSV I saw a big, likeable and clinical striker, Tolu, whom the Ajax supporters have already taken firmly to their hearts. Julian Brandt, it startles me every time that he is playing on Dutch pitches."