FORMER Ajax star Frenkie de Jong could not hide his pain at witnessing his old club exit the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Now with Barcelona, the Dutchman was seen checking the results on the San Siro screen after his new team’s win at Inter Milan.
1
At the realisation Ajax were beaten 1-0 by Valencia, which coupled with Chelsea’s win sent them crashing out, de Jong couldn’t help but grimace.
Last season saw the Amsterdam club knock out Real Madrid and Juventus en route to the semi-finals.
Only a stunning Lucas Moura hat-trick in the second leg versus Tottenham denied Ajax a place in the final.
And de Jong joined fellow rising star Matthijs de Ligt in subsequently leaving the team, in a £65million move to Barcelona.
Evidently, Erik ten Hag’s side were unable to cope despite starting this year’s competition in good form.
Early three-goal victories over Lille and Valencia were followed up with a defeat and draw to Chelsea as the Blues scored late on both occasions.
However Ajax‘s defence of their Eredivisie title is going to plan with just one loss in 16 providing them a three-point lead atop the standings.
Over in Spain, 22-year-old midfielder de Jong is already a mainstay in the Barcelona line-up.
Ernesto Valverde has used him in every one of his 21 matches this season, bringing him off the bench on Tuesday night as Ansu Fati struck a late winner against Inter.
