Ajax striker Brian Brobbey made a plea for Erik ten Hag to take him to Manchester United, only to then turn towards journalists and laugh as he insisted he was joking.
Ten Hag has been confirmed as United's next permanent manager, but has pledged to focus on his Ajax responsibilities before taking over at the Premier League club. The first of those came in Nijmegen on Saturday, when Ajax needed a late Brobbey goal to break NEC's resistance and remain on course for the title.
The young striker was given his debut by Ten Hag as a teenager, scoring in a cameo from the bench against Fortuna Sittard in 2020. He moved to RB Leipzig at the end of that breakthrough season, but has since returned to Amsterdam in a loan move.
Ajax's match-winner appeared before the press after his late goal, and was asked about Ten Hag's move. It was the first Ajax game since the manager's next move was confirmed, and the 20-year-old was clearly pleased for his boss.
"I am very happy for him and he really deserves it after everything he has done for Ajax," Brobbey said. "If only he brings me with him in two years.... no no.. joking joking!"
The goal was Brobbey's fourth since his loan return. He netted twice in a 3-0 victory over Ten Hag's former club Utrecht in January, and was also on target in a win at PSV Eindhoven one week later which could go some way to helping decide the title.
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“It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years, and I can assure our fans of my complete commitment and focus on bringing this season to a successful conclusion before I move to Manchester United,” Ten Hag said upon being announced by Man Utd. The 52-year-old led Ajax to the 2020-21 title, and remains on course to win the Eredivisie for a third time.
Ajax made hard work of their game against NEC, a team who they had beaten 5-0 on the opening weekend of the season. Dusan Tadic had a first-half penalty saved by Mattijs Branderhorst, and it looked like being a frustrating afternoon until half-time substitute Brobbey came up big with two minutes remaining.
Things almost got even better later in the day when title rivals PSV went 1-0 down away at Cambuur. However, goals from Eran Zahavi and Mario Gotze turned the game back in the visitors' favour.
"What I do like about the team is that they have remained calm," Ten Hag told ESPN after the game, per the Ajax website. "It didn't get hectic. And then you also score the goal."
"I could have chosen [Mohamed] Ihattaren or {Mohamed] Daramy as a winger [to replace the injured Steven Berghuis], but I wanted to score goals. That's why I chose Brian."
Ajax remain four points clear of PSV with four games remaining. Next up for Ten Hag's side is a home game against PEC Zwolle on April 30, with PSV hosting bottom side Willem II the following day.
