Brian Brobbey is not yet the finished article with former Netherlands international Willem van Hanegem insisting that the Manchester United linked striker has much to improve upon.
Despite taking his tally to 13 for the season in the 3-2 victory over Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday – his fifth in four Eredivisie matches for that matter – Brian Brobbey is, to borrow Van Hanegem’s expression ‘not at Real Madrid level’. Well, not yet at least.
The Amsterdam-born targetman, who finds himself back on Manchester United’s radar despite turning down an Erik ten Hag reunion in 2022, still misses his fair share of chances. His first touch can be a little ragged at times, too.
But there is no doubting Brobbey’s potential. And, at the age of just 21, he would arrive at Old Trafford, like a certain Rasmus Hojlund, not for the striker he is today but because of the striker he may become.
Erik ten Hag loves Brian Brobbey
“Let them remain modest at Ajax for a while, because it is all so difficult that there will certainly be some setbacks,” Van Hanegem tells De Telegraaf, unconvinced about whether an upturn in form from both the club and Brobbey is sustainable.
‘No, Brian Brobbey was also not at Real Madrid level. No matter how much some people wanted to (claim that he is).
“Just keep acting normal (with Brobbey). There is still a lot of work to be done in Amsterdam.”
According to The Mirror, Ten Hag is keen to strike a reunion with a forward who won a couple of Eredivisie titles under his stewardship before embarking upon a short-lived and very ill-fated spell at RB Leipzig.
But, considering that United have already invested heavily in Hojlund and with reports indicating that Ten Hag is set to lose some of his control over recruitment following that INEOS takeover, you’d forgive us for casting some doubt on the legitimacy of these Brobbey-based rumours.
Ajax striker turned down Red Devils move
“Manchester United wanted me (two years ago),” Brobbey recalls, speaking to De Telegraaf. “But I really wanted to return to Ajax permanently (from Leipzig to the tune of £17 million). To make this possible, my agent Jose Fortes Rodriguez even waived his hefty re-sale percentage.
“Erik ten Hag called me. At United, Jose could have got his millions of euros. And I could have earned a multiple of my Ajax salary.
“But our decision was made. We wanted to go to Ajax.”
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