When asked if there were any clubs he would consider leaving his current employers for, three names came to mind for one of Europe’s most exciting young centre-forwards. Real Madrid, of course.
There surely won’t be many players on the continent who would not consider Los Blancos– Champions League semi-finalists once again following Wednesday’s defeat of Man City – as one of their dream destinations.
Arsenal have quite the track record, too, when it comes to turning potential into elite-level talent.
Brian Brobbey was keen to mention Manchester United too, potentially in the knowledge that – should he keep his job – Erik ten Hag may come calling again for a striker he celebrated a pair of Eredivisie titles alongside at Ajax.
Manchester United still keen on Brian Brobbey
“Real Madrid is a great club,” Brobbey tells Men’s Health when asked about what the future could hold for him beyond the Johan Cruyff Arena. “But so are Arsenal and Manchester United.”
According to The Mirror, Man United remain on Brobbey’s trail, despite the Ajax academy graduate turning down their advances back in 2022 when opting to re-join his former employers from RB Leipzig. Brobbey set Ajax an initial fee in the region of £14 million at the time.
And, while the next question was answered with a pretty tongue-in-cheek response,the Amsterdam-born 22-year-old probably has a point when he suggests that Ajax would demand a far larger fee this time around, particularly if Brobbey makes his mark at the Euros.
“After the European Championship, (I will cost) 80 million (euros)!” Brobbey smiles.
Ajax striker turned down Erik ten Hag in 2022
The once-capped marksman is keen to point out that he remains under contract at Ajax until 2027, however. And he’d be forgiven for feeling a little wary about the idea of joining a Man United side who have proven to be something of a graveyard for promising talents in recent years, even if there is an expectation that things will change for the better under Ineos control.
Brobbey, despite a dismal season for Ajax, still has an impressive 21 goals and ten assists in all competitions. A rather unique talent – there are few footballers in Europe, even at his age, who can match Brobbey’s sheer strength and his back-to-goal qualities – suggestions that Man United will re-ignite their interest comes at a time in which the departure of Anthony Martial opens the door for a new centre-forward to take the Frenchman’s place at Old Trafford.
‘Erik ten Hag called me’
“Manchester United wanted me,” Brobbey told De Telegraaf, explaining his decision to snub the Red Devils’ advances in 2022. “But I really wanted to return to Ajax permanently. 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.”
