Marco van Basten blasts Ajax over signing of Antony | OneFootball

Marco van Basten has accused Ajax of hypocrisy after reports that the Dutch side have reached an agreement to sign Antony from São Paulo in a deal worth up to €30m.

Reports claim Ajax will pay an initial €20m for the 19-year-old when he moves in the summer, with a further €10m in possible add-ons.

Speaking to Fox Sports in the Netherlands, van Basten blasted the decision to spend a club record transfer fee on such a young player.

“At Ajax they have a very big mouth: our youth education is so great,” van Basten said.

“And then you are going to buy a youth player for a mega amount. Something is wrong then.

“If you hit yourself so terribly in the chest that the youth education is so great, then of course it is ridiculous that you are going to buy a youth player from Brazil for €25m.”

Van Basten played for the Amsterdam outfit during the 1980s and later managed them for a season in 2008/09.

The legendary striker, who was one of the stars of the Dutch success at the European Championships in 1988, says the deal marks a move away from Ajax’s tried and trusted way of doing business.

“The youth academy is the jewel of Ajax and then you have to spend your money on boys who guide the younger players.

“Guys of a certain level and a certain age, such as Daley Blind and Dušan Tadić.

“That is the balance that you have to find between youth and other players.”

Ajax host basement side RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie on Sunday.