Edson Alvarez has expressed his disappointment at Ajax’s decision to block him from moving to Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
The Blues made a move to sign the Mexican midfielder late in the summer window and were ready to make a bid in the region of £43million.
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Alvarez was desperate to make the move to the Premier League with Ajax having prevented him from moving to Newcastle United and Rennes earlier in the window.
Having sold three major members of their title winning team, Gravenberch, Antony and Lisandro Martinez, already Ajax were not ready to sanction another high-profile exit and dug their heels in.
Alvarez responded by going on strike but the Dutch champions stood their ground even when the midfielder went on strike in order to secure a move away from the club.
While reflecting on seeing his dream crushed, Alvarez told ESPN: ‘As a player you are aware that this would change everything.
‘A better league, a better life for you and for your family. This is what it’s all about for me. I am here for my love for football but also for my family.
‘I am very disappointed about it. But I am convinced that one day another big club will come for me. This winter, or in the summer. For now I can only focus on Ajax.’
Despite his determination to leave the club, Alvarez has been welcomed back into the fold and has played 15 games in all competitions this campaign.
Alvarez played in Wednesday’s Champions League defeat against Liverpool, prior to which he was criticised by former Ajax and Holland midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
‘Edson Alvarez plays every ball backwards or sideways, he’s of no use,’ the former midfielder told Voetbal International.
‘They [Ajax] should have taken him to London quickly. You could have signed two good players for that [amount of money Chelsea offered in the summer].’
