Frank de Boer urges Ajax to give Tolu Arokodare time to shine

Ajax legend Frank de Boer has urged the club to give Tolu Arokodare time to establish himself, despite comparisons between the striker and Dutch greats Marco van Basten and Patrick Kluivert.

Arokodare moved to Ajax from Wolverhampton Wanderers during the summer transfer window on a season-long loan. The agreement includes an option for the Eredivisie club to make the transfer permanent.

The Nigeria international has made an encouraging start in Amsterdam, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in 11 appearances across all competitions. However, he has started only six of those matches.

One of those starts came in Thursday’s UEFA Conference League meeting with HNK Hajduk Split in Croatia. Arokodare completed the full 90 minutes but could not add to his scoring record.

De Boer believes Arokodare’s qualities will be most effective if Ajax provide him with a regular supply of crosses from wide areas. The former Ajax player said the striker should be allowed to play without the weight of comparisons to two of the club’s most celebrated forwards.

“We are used to comparing a striker to Van Basten and Kluivert, but I have also seen a few times that he is technically gifted and that you can make very good use of him,” De Boer told Ziggo Sport, via Ajax Showtime.

“I have seen some great things. So just let him play.”

Arokodare joined Wolverhampton Wanderers after his spell with Ajax began and remains under contract with the Premier League club until June 30, 2029.