Friday, 5th July, 2013
Chelsea’s close relationship with Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem had always put them in pole position to sign Marco van Ginkel, with Ajax unable to compete according to sporting director Marc Overmars.
Vitesse midfielder Van Ginkel was confirmed as Jose Mourinho’s second summer signing yesterday, in a deal reportedly worth €8m.
Ajax had always been admirers of Van Ginkel, who last season made 33 league appearances and scored eight goals, but were always playing second fiddle to Chelsea’s global popularity.
The Stamford Bridge outfit have an agreement with Vitesse whereby players spend time in Holland gaining first team experience.
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It is also understood that Chelsea have had a say in staff appointments at Vitesse, most notably when Fred Rutten departed this summer and Overmars was left to moan that the same relationship had scuppered their efforts to buy Van Ginkel.
"We couldn’t have a discussion with the player as Chelsea have a co-operation agreement with Vitesse and were first choice", Overmars was quoted by the BBC as saying.
"The important thing for the player is that he gets minutes in the first team. Hopefully the deal goes well and he will get into the team.
"Van Ginkel is a great young talent and we would have liked him to come to Ajax. Whether it is too early for him to go to Chelsea or not, I don’t know. With us, he would have played a lot of games and played in the Champions League."
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