Edson Alvarez was desperate to seal a summer move to Chelsea from Ajax (Picture: ESPN)
Edson Alvarez has expressed his disappointment at Ajax’s decision to block him from joining Chelsea in the summer.
The Blues made a move to sign the Mexico international late in the summer transfer window and were prepared to make a bid in the region of £43million.
Alvarez was desperate to make the move to the Premier League with Ajax having prevented the 25-year-old from joining Newcastle United and Rennes earlier in the window.
Having sold three key members of their title winning side, Ryan Gravenberch, Antony and Lisandro Martinez, already Ajax were not prepared to sanction another high-profile departure and dug their heels in.
Alvarez responded by going on strike but the Dutch champions stood their ground even when the versatile midfielder went on strike.
Edson Alvarez has struggled to find his best form this season after his failure to seal a move to Chelsea in the summer (Picture: Getty)
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, Alvarez has been welcomed back into the fold and has made 15 appearances in all competitions this season.
Alvarez featured in Wednesday’s Champions League defeat against Liverpool, prior to which he was heavily criticised by former Ajax and Holland star Wesley Sneijder.
‘Edson Alvarez plays every ball backwards or sideways, he’s of no use,’ the former attacking 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].’
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The midfielder went on strike in the summer.