In Schroder’s Thoughts, AjaxDaily writer Lukas Schroder reviews the last week from the perspective of a somewhat cynical Ajax-fan. New pieces will come out every wednesday.
When I planned this piece, I wanted to do something about Kasper Dolberg and why we shouldn’t be too enthusiastic as it might harm his Ajax-career. Boring. Because the second I started typing, Davinson Sanchez made an amazing tackle on Sheraldo Becker. And I know, I know, Becker isn’t all that much of a footballer, but this tackle… it was majestic. So I decided to declare my love. Of the great Davinson Sanchez.
This Colombian hybrid between Paolo Maldini and Ruud Krol has been astonishing ever since he started playing for us, back in August. He joined for a little over three million euros from Copa Libertadores-winners Atletico Nacional, where he was a household name in the back. Let me stress this sum again. A little over three million. That’s a little over half we payed for his stumbling Colombian-brother Matteo Cassierra.
Let me stress another thing. He actually doesn’t speak Dutch or even English. He’s still taking a language course together with Cassierra. Imagine playing alongside Nick Viergever and not speaking his language. Imagine the natural touch you need to have to be as good as Sanchez has been in his first months for the club. His cool, his discipline, his timing: everything is on point. There’s not a defender in the Eredivisie who shows his talent, and I mean that.
That also makes me sad, because let me assure you: he will be gone within eightteen months. Barcelona already know who he is (he rejected them this summer because he wasn’t assured first team football) and now they know how good he really is, they will be monitoring him non-stop. And even though he is only twenty years old, he doesn’t really have that much to learn. And if he does, he won’t be learning it from playing Wout Weghorst at AZ.
Some will say I’m getting ahead of myself, but that’s just not true. I’m not some great talent-scout, but any idiot can see how amazing Davinson is and will be. He is the best defender in the world.
And I love him.
And I miss him already.
