Ajax’s €20m defender Josip Šutalo feels ‘very homesick and just wants to go back’ | OneFootball

According to Andy van der Meijde, Ajax defender Josip Šutalo is homesick and wants to return to Croatia. During the summer, Šutalo became Ajax’s fourth most expensive acquisition ever, joining the club from Dinamo Zagreb for more than €20m. The 23-year-old centre-back has played three Eredivisie matches since joining, and he’s yet to see his new side win a game. Ajax are currently 16th in the table with one win in six.

Speaking to Veronica Offside, former Ajax forward Andy van der Meijde said ‘Šutalo suffers very much from homesickness. He actually just wants to go back. He doesn’t talk to anyone, not even his teammates.’

Josip Šutalo featured 88 times for Dinamo Zagreb before his big money move to Ajax. The young central defender has also featured 10 times for the Croatia national team. According to Van der Meijde, the language barrier has also been a big problem for Šutalo, as he only knows his native language.

There are also other issues surrounding Josip Šutalo at the moment. ‘He doesn’t want to do anything, not even with his Croatian teammates Borna Sosa and Jakov Medic,’ says Van der Meijde. ‘Not even drinking coffee. He doesn’t want anything. He’s just homesick. And that’s difficult for a boy like that.’

Dick Advocaat, who also appeared on the talk show, has given Ajax one piece of advice regarding Josip Šutalo. ‘Send him away. See how much money you can get back. You can’t continue like this, can you?’ Advocaat also believes that certain people need to be removed from their roles at the club. ‘Everyone who has been involved in the purchasing policy must leave, including the Supervisory Board.’  Next up, Ajax face FC Utrecht away from home. A side that currently sit just below them in the Eredivisie relegation zone. A trip to Brighton in the Europa League follows for Maurice Steijns’s side. Will Ajax’s dreadful start to the season continue?

GBeNeFN | Hugo Hargreaves