Netherlands and Ajax legend Rafael van der Vaart has been impressed by the present form of Ghana playmaker Mohammed Kudus.
The 22-year-old was preferred as a striker to Brian Brobbey last week against Rangers in the Champions League and was again in the point of attack against SC Heerenveen last weekend in the Eredivisie.
Kudus scored one and set up another in an emphatic 4-0 victory over Rangers and also bagged a brace in a 5-0 humiliation of Heerenveen.
The highly-rated youngster was named man of the match in both games despite being used at a false nine position.
However, Van der Vaart is still missing something in the man in form.
Ajax signed Kudus from Danish club FC Nordsjaelland two years ago for 9 million euros, but due to injuries, he was unable to live up to the high expectations in the last season.
Now the Ghanaian seems to be finally fulfilling his full potential at the moment with his blistering performances since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign.
“The national coach of Denmark (Kasper Hjulmand, ed.) is very much a fan of Dutch football and of Ajax. At Nordsjaelland he started with that tiki-taka football. They still do that now and they produce great players.” Van der Vaart said about Kudus.
The Ghanaian midfielder, who has recently shown that he can also play well in the front, makes a great impression partly because of his physical appearance.
The former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur man suspects that Kudus spent a lot of time in the weight room during his period of injuries.
“The only thing he misses is that it seems like he doesn’t like it. I think that’s a shame. Then he scores and he’s like… I don’t know, dissatisfied or something,” says Van der Vaart.
Van der Vaart thinks the fact that Kudus doesn’t always seem happy when he scores has to do with the situation a few weeks ago.
Then the Ghanaian was close to a transfer to Everton, but Ajax blocked the move having rejected offers from the English side.
“Perhaps there is still a bit of grumpiness with him.” Van der Vaart concluded.
