Ajax have a history of producing some of the greatest strikers to grace the game and in Kasper Dolberg the club have another forward who already seems destined for the top. 

  • By Michael Bell
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dolberg-ajaxWith eleven goals and four assists in 21 games so far this season, it’s easy to see why Kasper Dolberg’s name is on everyone’s lips. He may only be three months into his first full season in professional football, but the 19-year-old’s impact has been so great that he has already been called the new Zlatan, Kluivert, Laudrup and Bergkamp by various sections of the media and former players.

Europe’s biggest clubs have already started to take notice of the youngster and they would have been salivating on Sunday when Dolberg fired in a 19-minute hat-trick in the 5-0 trouncing of NEC. The quickest treble scored in the league for Ajax by any player since Marco van Basten and one that highlighted the various attributes of a striker, who seems to have it all.

 

The first goal was made by Dolberg’s great touch and ball control, while his finish in the box was emphatic. The second highlighted his composure in front of goal and the third his awareness and ability in the air. After the game, Ronald de Boer admitted his admiration for the talent on Fox Sports, “He has speed, power, technique, scoring ability. Everything a striker must have. That kind of development is … not normal.”

Dolberg started his career in Denmark with Silkeborg IF, but was spotted by scout John Steen Olsen, who found Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and after hearing his recommendation, Ajax paid out €300,000 to bring the Dane to Amsterdam in the summer of 2015. An injury affected his start in Amsterdam, but towards the end of the season he came into his own with the U19’s, scoring eight goals, including three in the UEFA Youth League.

The summer saw much change at the club with Frank de Boer going out along with main striker Arkaduisz Milik, who joined Napoli for around £30 million. New boss Peter Bosz came into the club with a void in the attack and Dolberg was given his chance to impress in pre-season and he grasped it with both hands. The first game of the season was the Champions League qualifier with PAOK and Dolberg was handed the start by Bosz, with the forward making himself an instant hero by scoring in the 1-1 draw.

Dolberg then went on to net a double in the draw with Roda JC, but Bosz decided to drop the Dane for the next game against Willem II with new signing Bertrand Traore coming into the side. The match ended in a 2-1 defeat and Bosz instantly reinstated his wonderkid, who hasn’t looked back since. Dolberg was handed his first cap with the Danish national team during the recent international break and on his return to Amsterdam, Ajax director Marc Overmars had to issue a hands-off warning after clubs such as Chelsea, and Manchester United were credited with interest.

Luckily for Ajax, Dolberg is grounded and has no interest in leaving Amsterdam anytime soon, “Things are going so fast, I don’t fully realise what has happened yet. All I know is that I am on the right track at Ajax. I hope to play for Ajax for years to come.”

That statement will be music to the ears of Ajax fans, who firmly believe they are watching the beginning of something special in Amsterdam. Dolberg’s development has been so fast and if it continues he will undoubtedly add his name to an illustrious list of world-class strikers to begin their career with Ajax.

 




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