05 January 2023 , 08:09
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Former Manchester United star Daley Blind is set to join Bayern Munich, shortly after ending his second stint at Ajax by mutual consent.
Blind, 32, played more than 100 Eredivisie games after returning to the Johan Cruijff ArenA from Old Trafford in 2018. He and the club agreed to an early contract termination in December, though, and now looks to make a surprise return to the Champions League after Ajax's group stage elimination.
The versatile defender, who can also play in midfield, was a regular for the Netherlands as they reached the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. His arrival in Munich will help Bayern cover for the absence of regular left-back Lucas Hernandez, who suffered an ACL injury playing for France at the tournament.
According to The Athletic, Blind is scheduled to undergo a medical ahead of his Bundesliga move. At the time of writing, no details have been shared regarding the length of contract.
The defender began his career with Ajax, the club with whom his father Danny won the Champions League in 1995. He joined Manchester United after the 2014 World Cup, following Louis van Gaal to Old Trafford, but saw his opportunities limited under Van Gaal's successor Jose Mourinho and eventually moved on.
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Bayern's next task will be finding a stand-in for another long-term injury victim. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer suffered a broken leg while on a skiing trip after the World Cup, and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after requiring surgery.
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Daley Blind was part of the Netherlands squad at the World Cup in Qatar (AFP via Getty Images)“With pain in my heart and tears in my eyes I have to say goodbye to the club," Blind wrote in a statement (as translated by talkSPORT ) after leaving the club with whom he reached the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals. "Playing for Ajax is the best thing there is.
“Amsterdammers are often direct and demanding. That is also allowed, I like that and that is why I can always be honest with you. Together we have a special relationship and that was not always easy for me.
“Sometimes I had the feeling that I was playing against some of you and sometimes I felt that I was criticised just a little faster than many other players.
“That is absolutely not why I’m leaving. I am also grateful to you. The times you chanted my name I got goosebumps over and over. I am proud to have been part of this. It was an incredible time.
“This is not how I imagined my end at Ajax, but due to ‘circumstances’ it turned out that way. I hope the right time will come to say goodbye to you. Make sure Ajax stays Ajax.”