Maxwell and Ajax to part ways as of 01 February
30 January: In the shadow of the news of Ajax's capture
of
Jaap Stam, a modest, likeable Ajacied left his club quietly
through the back door. By mutual consent Maxwell and Ajax have
agreed to part ways as per 01 February. The contract of the
Brazilian left-footer, which would have expired in the
summer, will be dissolved. On Wednesday, Maxwell will be
Inter Milan property after four and a half seasons at the
Amsterdam ArenA.
Maxwell scored the sixth of
Ajax's goals in
a lopsided victory over NAC Breda in August
2004. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Maxwell is currently recovering from the dreadful
injury he sustained in the Amstel Cup fixture at Willem II
on
21 April 2005: in the 44th minute of that game he
snapped the
cruciate ligament of his right knee, an injury that has now
kept him sidelined for more than eight months. The end of his
battle is now in sight, but he will not return to action in the
red and white of Ajax. Milan powerhouse Internazionale
announced yesterday that they had reached a
pre-contract agreement with the player. Inter
currently have the maximum number of players from outside of
the European Union in their squad. For that reason, it is
believed by Italian media that the Nerazzurri will
loan Maxwell out to Empoli later this week. Ascoli and Reggina
have also been mentioned.
Maxwell Scherrer Cabelino Andrade (born Vila Velha, Brazil,
27 August 1981) is neither a Dutchman nor did he come all
the way through the youth ranks. Yet, it feels like he is a
true Ajacied. He was only 19 years old when Ajax signed him on
13 June 2001, after
having seen the stylish left-footer play with his youth team of
Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte at a youth tournament in The
Netherlands. Maxwell had never seen first team action at that
point.
Maxwell is
stretchered off at Willem II on 21 April, 2005. [Photo:
Ajax.nl]
He made his official début for Ajax in the very first
league game of his first season, at home against Roda JC on 19
August 2001. He very briefly lost his spot in the fall of 2001,
but apart from that he never disappeared from Ajax's starting
line-up in the next four seasons: he had 24 Eredivisie
appearances in 2001-2002, 30 in 2002-2003, 31 in 2003-2004 and
29 in 2004-2005, until that fatal cup game in Tilburg. His
three year deal was extended until the summer of 2006 on
11 February 2004, during what was arguably his best season
as an Ajacied: the 2003-2004 campaign, at the end of
which Ajax lifted the championship shield and Maxwell the
VVCS Player of the Year Award.
Maxwell had 114 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax and he also
played 11 domestic cup matches and 31 games in UEFA
competition. That's 156 official games for Ajax-1, in which he
netted ten times: nine goals in the Dutch league and one
in 'Europe'. He won two Dutch championships (2002 and
2004) with Ajax, as well as one Amstel Cup (2002).
Maxwell hardly ever made headlines, but was a stylish,
gracious Ajacied and a true gentleman on and
off the pitch. Ajax USA is very sorry indeed to see him go
and it's an even bigger shame that the end of his Ajax career
is not glorious but rather sad. Letting him go a few
months earlier was the least Ajax could do.
Maxi, we wish you the best of luck in Italy and we will
never forget you! (MP)
Maxwell (center) with his arm
around Sean during
a team photo during Ajax USA's Arena Day,
2004.
Source: Ajax.nl
Related links
