Ajax teenager Abdellah Ouazane backed for regular starting role

Abdellah Ouazane’s performances for Ajax have earned strong praise from former Netherlands winger Eljero Elia, who believes the 17-year-old should be starting every week.

Elia, who played for Feyenoord and Juventus among other clubs, says Ouazane has shown an exceptional level of maturity despite his age.

Ajax have already dropped seven points in the Eredivisie this season, but former Netherlands, Ajax and Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul believes the side’s football under new manager Michel Sanchez has shown promise at times.

Krul also attributes that progress to the arrival of new technical director Jordi Cruijff.

“What Cruijff has put in place at Ajax, with Tolu and Brandt for example, is fantastic,” Krul said.

Elia then highlighted his admiration for Ouazane, comparing the teenager with another young player who made an impression early in his career.

“The last time I saw a boy so young doing that, it was Ismail Aissati,” said the former winger.

Aissati came through the PSV academy before joining Ajax.

“I love it,” Elia added of Ouazane. “This boy simply needs to play.”

Elia believes the teenager fits Ajax’s traditional approach to developing young players and could represent an exceptional case.

“At Ajax, they always say: it does not matter how old you are, you play,” he said. “I think this is a special case.”

Elia won 30 international caps for the Netherlands.