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The Cost Of Ajax's Starting XI That Knocked Out Juventus Is Proof That Money Isn't Everything

The Cost Of Ajax's Starting XI That Knocked Out Juventus Is Proof That Money Isn't Everything

Incredible.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

The fact that five of Ajax's starting XI were not even born the last time they reached this stage of the Champions League says everything you need to know about this club's exciting project.

It was night to remember for the Dutch outfit. Juventus' big money signing Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a trademark header, but goals from Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt sent them through in dramatic fashion.

Erik ten Hag's talented squad are without doubt 'the surprise package' of this campaign's competition, beating European football's elite along the way.

They have come up against a host of the richest clubs in the world, and come out on top.

What's even more impressive is the transfer value of the Ajax team that started on Tuesday night.

Ten Hag's starting XI of Onana, Veltman, De Ligt, Van De Beek, Neres, Tadic, Mazraoui, Blind, Schone, De Jong and Ziyecha cost a total of £54.929 million.

That's just over half the price Juventus paid for five time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer transfer window. Incredible, right?

Image: PA
Image: PA

Matthijs de Ligt, one of the biggest talents in world football, was nurtured in the club's academy, while Joel Veltman, Donny van de Beek and Noussair Mazraoui were given their big break after coming through the youth ranks

We can't forget about David Neres, Hakim Ziyech and Dusan Tadic, who have turned out to be bargain deals.

And perhaps the most talented of them all, Frenkie de Jong, was bought for just one euro.


Can Ajax go all the way in this Champions League campaign?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: SPORT, Football News, Cristiano, Football, Ronaldo, Ajax, Juventus, Soccer, Champions League

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

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