Football news - 'We like to keep our players' - Edwin van der Sar warns Barcelona over Andre Onana
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Updated 27/11/2018 at 10:00 GMT
Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar has responded to the repeated links between Barcelona and goalkeeper Andre Onana with a strong statement.
Andre Onana
Image credit: Getty Images
Onana was brought through the ranks at La Masia and has been strongly linked with a move back to the Catalan club.
While the Cameroonian has been touted with a return to the Blaugrana, Van der Sar is keen for him to stay in Amsterdam.
Now in his third successive season as the first-choice goalkeeper at Ajax, the Dutch legend does not want Barcelona to swoop in for such an integral member of his team.
"I think Andre [Onana] is fantastic," Van der Sar told Goal.
"He came to Ajax aged 18 or 19 and the way he developed, and the natural attributes that he already had, his speed, his reaction... I think he set himself as a great goalkeeper.
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Edwin van der Sar
Image credit: Eurosport
"Also He was in a rush to play first-team football quickly, but I think the level that he composed himself and that first year, playing straight away the Europa League final was a great start.
"Last year was a difficult season but this year again he has proven to be extremely valuable for the team and besides that, he is a great guy.
We develop great players, not only in Amsterdam but hopefully also in Cape Town and there is interest in a lot of our players, but we like to keep them for as long as possible.
"I think there are always a lot of rumours about players from Ajax."
The reports of Barcelona's interest in Onana come amid speculation that Jasper Cillessen - another former Ajax 'keeper - is set to leave the Camp Nou in the summer in a bid to play more regular first-team football.
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