Faccini: Huntelaar Would Suit Roma And Milan (And Not Juve)

Speaking to transfer facilitator and Dutch football expert Paolo Alberto Faccini described what he sees as Klaas Jan Huntelaar's strengths.

Faccini, a former Roma player who served during the 1982 Scudetto-winning season, remarked, "Huntelaar has the characteristics of, say, an Inzaghi.

"It's often reported that the Dutch league isn't as difficult as other ones - they say that Ajax play three matches a year (against PSV, Feyenoord and AZ.) But even against AZ, one of the more popular teams, Ajax waltzed to a great 6-1. You can't say that the defences do not matter.

"Is he ready for Serie A? I think so, but in my opinion he would need a very attacking team. He'd do better in a first-rate team, accustomed to pressing forward.

"Roma? Yes, I'd say so, but Milan also has the characteristics that would suit Huntelaar."

Juventus did not earn a mention, but the Turin club are thought to maintain an interest in the Ajax ace.

However, it seems as if the striker will be going nowhere until summer, at which point he'll contest the European Championships. Then, a move abroad could prove inevitable.

Ajax Keen On Signing Engelaar

Amsterdam-based De Telegraaf, the biggest selling morning daily in the Netherlands, reveals today that the Johan Cruyff Schaal and Beker holders have already made Twente an offer for the international attacking midfielder, whose club however refuse to negotiate.

Twente brought the towering (1.98 m) former centre-forward back to his homeland from Belgian side Genk in August 2006. An ex-Breda man, Engelaar has since scored 11 goals in 57 matches and taken up the captain’s armband.

Usually playing on the left midfield position of Fred Rutten’s favourite 4-3-3 formation, the 28-year-old is under contract until June 30, 2009. However, it could be that Twente will change their minds, as they have just acquired another midfielder, the highly rated 18-year-old Belgian U-21 international (of Moroccan origin) Ibrahim Maaroufi on loan from Internazionale until the end of the season.

Van Gaal Plays Down Personal Disaster

Actually, this was the heaviest ever defeat for their boss, Louis van Gaal. Working as a head coach on professional level since September 1991 for Barcelona, the Netherlands national side and of course Ajax he had never before known such a setback.

It was during his Amsterdam era that Van Gaal had suffered his previous biggest loss, when Ajax were thrashed 4-1 at PSV Eindhoven on February 6, 1994, with Ghanaian Nii Lamptey netting a brace.

All things considered, the 56-year-old remained calm. “In the first half we were simply better than Ajax and even after the restart we really came close to making it 2-2. What happened after their third goal does not really interest me.”

Van Gaal refused to blame Demy de Zeeuw’s sending-off for the defeat. “Demy should not have used his hand, but let the ball go in. However, I can understand that the referee didn’t see that the ball had already crossed the line.”

Eredivisie Round-Up: Ajax Hit Sorry AZ For Six

The Amsterdam giants had already demolished Venlo at home by the same score-line and De Graafschap away 8-1 this season. But against the side of their former legend, Louis van Gaal, they definitely showed their title credentials, based on a front line which has now hit 52 goals in just 18 Eredivisie games.

Edgar Davids featured for the first time this season after recovering from a broken leg and Kenneth Pérez re-appeared in an Ajax shirt following a short spell at PSV Eindhoven. And they both helped their side return to winning ways in breathtaking fashion.

Questionable decisions

Actually, Adrie Koster’s men had to come from behind to hand Van Gaal the heaviest defeat of his illustrious career. Just five minutes into the game Ari collected the ball after Mounir El Hamdaoui had hit the woodwork and scored on the rebound, even though Demy de Zeeuw looked off-side.

Jan Vertonghen brought the tie back to level terms on 23 minutes and then, just before the break, Roelof Luinge made a critical decision: De Zeeuw used his hand to clear a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar header behind the goal line. Instead of granting a goal and brandishing a yellow card, the 52-year-old referee awarded a penalty and sent off the international midfielder after consulting with his assistant.

It proved a bitter blow to Alkmaar, left with 10 men and a goal behind as former star Pérez duly converted the penalty on the stroke of half-time (2-1).

Twenty-goal mark

And then the floodgates opened, as the Johan Cruyff Schaal and Beker holders added another four to the delight of 50.639 fans. After El Hamdaoui had wasted a great chance for the visitors, Huntelaar hit two (61’, 89’) to make it 20 goals for the season and Kennedy Bakircioglü (67’), Leonardo (87’) were also on the score sheet. The Brazilian also appeared for the first time this season while Davids and Pérez were rewarded with their own standing ovation. A dream afternoon for Ajax, another disaster for AZ.

Heerenveen earned themselves a two-goal cushion before the half-hour mark at Utrecht, only to settle for a 2-2 draw. Danijel Pranjić opened the score with a free-kick seconds after kick-off and in-form Michael Bradley made it 2-0 on 27 minutes with his 11th strike this season. But Aljé Schut halved the deficit (50’) and Sander Keller equalized (69’), with both the hosts’ goals being created by Leroy George. Gerald Sibon had the greatest of chances to win the match for Heerenveen, but Michel Vorm kept his 80th–minute penalty kick out.

Kolk shines

Santi Kolk scored a brace (41’, 79’) and Jasar Takak added another (56’), his first for the club, as Vitesse entered the race for European qualification with a sound 3-0 victory at De Graafschap. They could have made it four, but Paul Verhaegh aimed straight at the woodwork.

Finally, Gert Heerkes enjoyed the best of debuts as head coach of Heracles, who proved too strong for hapless Sparta Rotterdam on their artificial home turf. Kwame Quansah broke the deadlock just 13 minutes into the game and Ricky van den Bergh found the back of the net on 53 minutes to seal off a 2-0 victory for the hosts. It was his long-awaited first strike for the Almelo side, ironically against one of his former clubs.

Koster: “We Deserved It”

“No, I don’t find the score-line flattering,” he told Tele 2 network.

“Demy De Zeeuw’s red card proved vital for both Alkmaar and ourselves. A man up we then had to kill the game – and that’s exactly what we did.”

“Our clean-cut finishing was the main reason why the match was not competitive anymore. But after we’d made it 3-1 we were a bit loose.”

Koster was also particularly satisfied with the return of both Edgar Davids and Kenneth Perez. “I found Kenneth decisive in his passing, while Edgar was present overall. It was a beautiful, a spectacular game and now the Eredivisie title fight is wide open.”

Feyenoord Set Sights On Boulahrouz

Although technical director Peter Bosz would not confirm, Feyenoord are already looking for a way to bring the Sevilla man back to the Netherlands, as Voetbal International magazine reports.

Loaned out to the UEFA Cup, Supercopa and Copa del Rey holders from Chelsea in the summer, the Dutch international of Moroccan origin has only played nine times since then because of a groin injury and a reported bad relationship with boss Manolo Jiménez.

Ajax failed

His outings had also been limited during his time in England and as a result Boulahrouz only featured in four of the Oranje UEFA European Championship qualifiers. Aware of his situation and also looking for defensive reinforcements Ajax tried to lure him last month, but at no avail.

A few weeks ago his agent, Rodger Linse, made it clear that the former Hamburg man is not thinking about going back to the Netherlands at the moment, with his mind set to success with Sevilla.

Bosz tight-lipped

“We’re in talks with several players, but we don’t know yet whether signing them is feasible or not,” Bosz told VoetbalPrimeur website. “But we are not in a position to reveal their names at the moment, as that may damage negotiations. The coach has indicated that we need a player in each line. And that’s what we’re trying to do at the moment.”

Feyenoord paid Wolfsburg 2.6 million euros last summer to sign an experienced centre-back in Kevin Hofland. But Ron Vlaar’s injury has kept him out of action since September 16, leaving only André Bahia as Hofland’s partner, since Van Marwijk has not yet handed 19-year-old Jordy Buijs his first-team debut.

Bolton Chase AZ's Steinsson

Gretar Steinsson's agent, Jerry de Koning, is hopeful that Bolton Wanderers will soon display concrete interest in his client.

The Icelandic midfielder currently plies his trade at Dutch side AZ, but the prospect of a Premiership move has often been on his mind.

Newcastle United and Middlesbrough were once said to be eager to land the 26-year-old, but hefty fee demands from AZ put paid to the prospect of a move.

De Koning remarked, "Hopefully Bolton are prepared to continue."

Since arriving at the DSB Stadion in 2006, the experienced international has twice extended his deal. Right now, he is under contract until 2012.

Prior to signing up with the Dutch club, Steinsson represented Young Boys Berne and local side Akranes.