Laayoune – The Moroccan-Dutch footballer Mohamed Ihattaren skips Ajax’ training camp in Austria due to allegedly receiving threats and experiencing harassment.
Ihattaren was not among the 29 Ajax players that went last week to the team’s training camp in Austria.
Dutch newspapers have reported that the threats the young player received did not come from football fans.
According to a Dutch news outlet, Ajax’s coach, Alfred Schreuder, visited Ihattaren for support, and the football club has given the Moroccan-Dutch midfielder some time off to take care of his personal issues.
AFC AJAX tweeted that the young player’s “absence has nothing to do with a lack of discipline nor relapse,” suggesting that Ihattaren is not actively involved with the team due to personal issues.
Read also: Manchester United Emerges as Likely Destination for Morocco’s Ziyech
Ihattaren made the 2021 NXGN top 50 list of the best wonderkids in world football. In 2021, he signed a MAD 63 million (€6 million) contract with Serie A powerhouse Juventus.
Ihattaren was promptly loaned out to Sampdoria Genoa after signing with Juventus in order to earn invaluable playing time, but the young creative midfielder did not make any appearances for the Italian team.
The Moroccan-Dutch midfielder joined Ajax on loan last January, scoring five goals in four games. The loan to Ajax is set to expire in December 2022, when Ihattaren is expected to return to Juventus.
Ajax will play two practice games in Austria this week. The Dutch team will play Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday and Europa League champion Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
