Chivu departs for AS Roma in biggest transfer in Ajax history
08 July: Cristian Chivu, central defender and captain of AFC
Ajax, will leave immediately to join AS Roma of the Italian
Serie A. The shock news from the Amsterdam ArenA was totally
unexpected. As usual Ajax did not reveal the transfer fee, but
several prominent and generally reliable Dutch media (including
Studio Sport, NOS Teletekst and Voetbal
International magazine) claim that the Italian side paid
18 million euros for the Romanian.
Chivu speaks to reporters outside Arena. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
The official AS Roma website confirms this fee. In addition,
Roma claims to have Ajax's permission to pay in three
terms of 6 million euros, spread out over three years. It
is reportedly impossible for AS Roma to pay the whole sum at
once. The Italian club is dealing with major debts of -
reportedly - well over 60 million euros. AS Roma's will
have to send Ajax an official 'bank guarantee of payment' in
order to make the transfer official. This is regarded as a
formality. Chivu will fly to Rome, Italy, this evening. He will
officially sign his player contract and will be presented
to the Italian press tomorrow. His contract at Ajax would have
expired in the summer of 2006.
Ajax's general director, Arie van Eijden, did not confirm
this fee, but admitted that the Chivu deal is "financially by
far the biggest transfer in the history of the club". The
previous 'record holder' was Frank de Boer, who left Amsterdam
for some 11 million euros in 1998.
For the Ajax supporters this seems to be an irrelevant
factor, and Van Eijden stressed that he understands their
sentiments: "Let one thing be clear: Ajax wanted to hold on to
Chivu. But Cris wanted to move to AS Roma himself. Then you
know that it will be impossible to keep him at our club."
Ajax's head-coach, Ronald Koeman, added: "Of course it's a
shame that Cris is leaving, but I think we shouldn't get in his
way. Cris leaves beautiful memories behind at Ajax. Ajax is
working hard in order to to contract his successor and I have a
lot of faith in that."
Throughout the second half of last season and the summer
break Cristian Chivu was repeatedly linked with Southern
European giants such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, AS Roma and
Internazionale. Ajax and Chivu agreed on a 01 July deadline by
which Chivu would have made up his mind. On 01 July both Chivu
and his agent, Mr Becali, confirmed that the Romanian was going
to stay at Ajax for another season. On that occasion Arie van
Eijden revealed that, in spite of all the rumors, Ajax never
received a single official offer for Chivu from any club.
Cristian Chivu joined Ajax at age 17 in the summer of 1999
coming from Romanian side Universitatea Craiova. He made his
official Ajax-1 début in the 30 September 1999 UEFA Cup
home game against Dukla Banska Bystrica (3-1). He drew
attention by getting sent off twice in his first weeks as an
Ajax defender and experienced some of the most dismal seasons
in Ajax history, but meanwhile developed into one of Europe's
most wanted talents.
In his four seasons in Amsterdam he played 107 Eredivisie
league games for Ajax, in which he scored 13 goals. He also
played 26 European games, 8 Amstel Cup games and one game for
the Johan Cruyff Shield (Dutch Super Cup). As an Ajacied he
also became the captain of the Romanian national team, for
which he played 28 games so far (2 goals).
With Ajax Chivu won the Dutch championship of 2002, the
Amstel Cups of 1999 and 2002 and the Johan Cruijff Shield in
2002. He reached the 2003 quarter finals of the UEFA Champions
League with Ajax as well, after having eliminated his new club
AS Roma in the second group phase. He was voted 'Player Of The
Year' in both Holland and Romania in 2002.
"I knew that this could be my last day here", Chivu told
Ajax.nl this afternoon. "That's why it was a strange training
session. Yesterday there were rumors only. The deal was settled
today. Of course I am happy. Very happy, as I will play for an
Italian club now. This is an important step in my career."
Looking back at his four seasons in Amsterdam, Chivu said:
"I have had four wonderful years, in which I did good things
for the team, but also a few bad things. I am leaving now,
that's life. I just told the squad about my departure. They
understood. They reacted very normally, that's the way they
are. I will come back to Amsterdam very soon. There will be
time to say goodbye to everyone. I hope I will always be
welcome here."
The Dutch media are already looking forward and have started
speculating about Chivu's successor. There seem to be two
candidtates: former Ajax and Holland veteran Frank de Boer, who
is reportedly flying to Holland for talks tomorrow, but the
number one candidate is said to be Frenchman Julien
Escudé, left footed defender of Stade Rennes and the
younger brother of tennis player Nicolas. (MP)
Source: Ajax.nl
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