Lazio have completed the signing of Ajax winger Ricardo Kishna for a fee believed to be €4 million.
- By Michael Bell
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The 20-year-old had his medical in Rome on Tuesday, but the deal was being held up as Ajax and Roma negotiated how the transfer fee would be paid. Both club’s have now agreed on a €3 million initial fee, rising to €4 million based on appearances.
Kishna has reportedly signed a four-year-deal with Lazio, and said to Voetbal International on the move, “I’m looking forward to experiencing the freedom the attacking players play with at Lazio,”
“It’s much more dynamic compared to what I’ve been used to recently at Lazio. The Coach [Stefano] Pioli sees a role for me across the attack, including in the number 10 role.
“I often played that position in the youth teams, and I enjoyed it very much, though now I want to concentrate on the left wing, although I can also play on the right.
“In Rome I can play with creativity, and have a better chance in attack. The Coach has asked me to express myself, but to press when the ball is lost.”
Kishna went on to admit that he had problems with Ajax boss Frank de Boer, which was one of the reason’s he decided to move away from Amsterdam.
He said, “It’s no secret that my relationship with Frank De Boer was not good in Amsterdam. It often seemed like the situation would improve, but then the same old problems would surface.
“I didn’t just leave because of the playing style or the Coach. Those factors played an important role though.
“I didn’t see how we could get along. I felt more and more that I could do nothing right in his eyes, and that eats away at you.
“That’s why, though I got on well with my teammates, I left the club with negative feelings.
“However, I also look critically at myself, I didn’t perform well enough, I know that.
“I was full of ambition when I moved to the biggest club in the Netherlands. I really have a soft spot for Ajax, but I had to leave, I was worried my development would stall.
“Now, here I feel great confidence in myself, in the club and the Coach. There are all the ingredients necessary for me to make a leap as a player and a person.
“I’m not happy with last season, next year I hope to be reflecting on something different. I know what I have to do with Lazio.”
Kishna originally joined Ajax from ADO Den Haag in 2010, and made 34 Eredivisie appearances for the club, scoring six goals.
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