In Total Football Analysis’ February magazine edition, I analysed some of Eredivisie’s important transfer trends.
While youth academy optimisation and scouting around Europe are commonplace, many Dutch teams are discovering the wonders of finding hidden gems in the Americas.
Brazilian winger David Neres – hailing from football metropolis São Paolo – signed for Ajax Amsterdam two years ago.
In that time, he has become one of the most sought-after attackers in the country, proving just how smart Ajax were to pay €12 million for the now 21-year-old.
David Neres Style Of Play
After a half-season adjusting to life in the Dutch capital, Neres became a guarantee in Ajax’s XI for the 2017/18 season.
Last season, he scored 14 league goals and had 13 assists in a role that saw him exclusively deployed as the right-wing threat.
Neres and Justin Kluivert formed a dynamic and young duo that terrorized Dutch defences, earning Ajax Champions League qualification.
Kluivert earned his move to AS Roma during the summer, but Neres remains at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
An argument could be made for Neres being Ajax’s best, or at least most productive, player last season, so it comes as a surprise that Marc Overmars was able to hold onto the promising Brazilian.
However, with Dušan Tadić’s move from Southampton and Frenkie de Jongs emergence as a world-class creator, Ajax have shifted gears this season.
Neres has only started 10 Eredivisie matches as Erik Ten Hag often opts for Hakim Ziyech and Tadić on the wings.
David Neress role in Amsterdam has diminished, but he has still made an impact in his second full season.
Three goals and nine assists in less than one-thousand Eredivisie minutes is a remarkable feat.
Neres also started in all but one Champions League group stage match, a round which saw Ajax undefeated against Bayern Munich, AEK Athens, and SL Benfica.
Rumours of a move to China have emerged in recent months, but David Neres is very much an Ajax player.
His contract runs until 2022, and until then, Overmars will expect a hefty transfer fee for his services.
De Jong has secured a move to Barcelona, and many expect Matthijs de Ligt to do so next summer.
If the day comes when Ziyech moves on, Neres will surely be the player to take on the mantle of Ajax’s leading talent.
Until then, he is an excellent option for Ten Hag as a starter or an impact substitute.
David Neres Player Profile
David Neres is a tricky player to shoehorn, and by that, I mean it’s hard to tell precisely what type of player he will be in the coming years.
He’s left-footed but plays often on the right side.
Neres’ dribbling is exceptional: his 68% completion rate is better than last season’s 64%, which was already the best per 90 out of all Eredivisie players with more than 30 appearances according to WhoScored.
His close control results in maximum ball retention, even in tight spaces.
This in turn allows Ajax’s other players time to make runs into space.
His control of the ball is so good that discussions have ensued regarding his long-term potential as a central attacking player.
Though Ten Hag has experimented with using Neres centrally this season, he is still best suited as a right-winger.
Defenders struggle to keep up with his quick lateral movements.
Although David Neres isn’t as explosive as other top-tier wingers, he uses his sublime movement on the ball to work his way around defenders.
Neres is more than a dribbler, as proven by his goalscoring record.
The Brazilian is a great all-around player in the box.
He’s able to position himself in dangerous positions, make intelligent decisions, and put the finishing touches on assists.
Neres also contributes to the defensive side of the game, which is something we will explore in greater detail later.
Overall, Neres is a polished star with excellent footwork and ball control.
The question of his ceiling needs to be further examined, though, and that’s precisely what we will do today.
David Neres Attacking profile: Dribbling
David Neres, contrary to most wingers, does not rely on his speed to produce chances.
Unlike his domestic rival Hirving Lozano, Neres is a much more technically-disposed character.
His lack of blistering pace may hinder the youngsters pursuit of an international spot for the Seleção and, perhaps, a bigger club.
However, pace isn’t everything when considering the brilliance of a wide player.
Neres has made a name for himself with his quick horizontal cuts and shifty dribbling.
The premise of a successful David Neres is productive one-on-one dribbling encounters.
Vice-versa, Neres looks flat if he can’t manage to trick his marker into a defensive falter.
Ajax are a team entire
