Blind: United was the chance of a lifetime

That was the year the Dutchman starred in the Netherlands' run to the World Cup semi-finals under soon-to-be United manager Louis van Gaal, prior to completing his own move to Old Trafford in September.

 

The elegant defender admits the switch from Ajax to United was "the chance of a lifetime", despite the emotion of departing his boyhood club.

 

And he also confesses he had not specifically targeted a move to the Premier League before United's interest became clear. Instead, he imagined another of Europe's top leagues might suit his playing style more comfortably.

“It began after the World Cup,” he told our podcast hosts, Helen Evans, Sam Homewood and David May. “After the World Cup 2014... this tournament changed my life.

 

“One summer before there was two clubs [interested in signing me]. I think Atletico Madrid was there. We had some conversations, but it was really in an early stage. It was not like I wanted to leave Ajax, because I was really happy there. So my idea was really to stay there and for a long time. And then the World Cup came and then it started.

 

“I was just playing the World Cup and enjoying it. During the World Cup, of course, I played at high level and then came back here for the holidays and then the rumours start after Louis van Gaal signed at Manchester United. I think the rumours got so intense with me and United that we also asked ourselves, like, 'Is there any truth in this or not?'”

Blind remembers that the gossip columns were so rife with speculation that even his friends were messaging him to get the latest juicy news.

 

“There were rumours from Manchester United. There were some rumours from Spain. There were some, yeah. [I was wondering] do I extend my contract? There were different things going on.

 

“Some days, you open the news and you get a message on your phone from your friends! 'Hey, you go there?' I say: 'I don’t know!' Of course, it’s strange if you get linked by all these clubs and of course a lot of reports. There’s things they have the right information, but I didn’t hear anything from them, and also not from Louis van Gaal. After a while, the rumours get so heavy, more and more, that my agent ask one time, like, 'Is this true or not?' Because then maybe we can have a talk or I focus on Ajax and we move on.

 

“Then I think three days before the window [ended], we get a call: 'We are seriously interested, what do you want to do?'  Then I said, yes of course!”

Daley reveals that, before United's approach, he'd eyed La Liga as a more appropriate home for his talents.

 

“Premier League was not the first on my list when I also looked to my physical part of the game, so no the Premier League was not the first league I thought of,” he explains. 

 

“I was more thinking about Spain...  [and it being] nice in the sun playing football! So that was my first one and, to be honest, the year before, Jan Vertonghen goes to Tottenham, [Christian] Eriksen went to Tottenham. A lot of players went to really big clubs and, yeah, I was always really thinking [what might happen in the future].

 

“It was like a chance of a lifetime, I think, for me. And after that, the first three days before the window then it was like really quick, like: 'Is this happening?  Yes.'  I think at that point, the manager for Ajax, Frank De Boer, called me. 'I want you to stay but, of course, I cannot do this to you [make you stay]. You want to go or not?' I said, yes, I want to go and then everything was done in the end.”

Blind left Amsterdam with some sadness, but focused on his pride at achieving so much as an Ajax player.

 

“I remember my wife started crying. 'No, we have everything under control now in Amsterdam! We just bought a house and our life is settled here now!' I said, 'Yeah, it’s okay. We’ll be fine, you know.' 

 

“And, the next day, you fly away and it’s like a new adventure. But also I was really, really proud of what I achieved. I became the Footballer of the Year. I won four trophies. 

 

“So it was also not a bad moment to leave the club and I think I left the club by the front door and that's something I am also really proud of.”