One key weakness Tolu Arokodare must fix at Ajax

Tolu Arokodare appears to have found the perfect opportunity to rebuild his career after a frustrating spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Afrik Foot reports.

However, one respected Dutch coach believes there is one flaw that could prevent the Super Eagles striker from succeeding at Ajax.

The 25-year-old Nigerian is expected to join the Eredivisie giants on a season-long loan with an option to buy after Wolves agreed to let him leave just one year after signing him from Belgian side Genk.

On paper, the move ticks almost every box. Ajax needed a physically imposing striker following Wout Weghorst’s departure, while Arokodare needed regular football in a league better suited to his qualities after Wolves’ relegation from the Premier League.

Earlier, Afrik Foot analysed why the transfer could help the Nigerian rediscover his best form. However, former Ajax coach Aad de Mos believes success in Amsterdam may depend on something that has little to do with football.

Aad de Mos identifies Arokodare’s biggest concern

De Mos did not question Arokodare’s ability. If anything, the former Ajax coach was full of praise for the Nigerian’s qualities after watching him shine in Belgium with Genk.

Speaking to De Telegraaf, he described Arokodare as “an apartment building” inside the penalty area because of his imposing physical presence and ability to dominate defenders.

The former Standard Liege coach also praised the striker’s hold-up play, insisting few forwards are as effective at bringing long balls under control and involving teammates in build-up play like the ex-FC Koln striker.

However, De Mos also highlighted what he believes is Arokodare’s biggest weakness.

“He’s a boy who needs confidence, a bit of an eccentric figure. And he can’t stand the criticism of the fans and the press so well,” the 79-year-old said in quotes revealed by Voetbalfocus.

“Ajax should at least prepare him for the Dutch media to be much sharper in their opinions than the Belgian one.”

That warning may be more important than anything Arokodare does on the pitch, especially when things aren’t going his way.

Why Ajax could become Arokodare’s toughest mental test

Few clubs in Europe generate as much pressure as Ajax. Every striker is expected to score consistently, dazzle and deliver trophies. When performances dip, criticism arrives quickly from both supporters and the Dutch media.

That represents a significant contrast to Belgium, where Arokodare enjoyed the best spell of his career with relatively less scrutiny.

Confidence has always appeared central to the Nigerian’s game. During his time at Genk, he played with enormous belief and developed into one of the Belgian Pro League’s most feared forwards before earning a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

England, however, presented a different story. Arokodare struggled to establish himself during Wolves’ disappointing campaign, managing just six goals and two assists in 38 appearances as the club suffered relegation from the Premier League.

While tactical issues, inconsistent service and managerial instability all contributed to that difficult season, De Mos believes handling criticism could become an equally important challenge at Ajax.

Can Arokodare prove De Mos wrong?

The encouraging news for Ajax is that almost every footballing factor points towards success.

The Eredivisie has historically suited physically dominant centre-forwards, while Ajax’s possession-based style should provide Arokodare with considerably more opportunities than he enjoyed at Wolves.

His aerial dominance, hold-up play and penalty-box presence address several weaknesses Ajax displayed last season, making him an attractive tactical fit for the Amsterdam club.

More importantly, the structure of the proposed deal also reduces external pressure.

Ajax are signing the Nigerian on loan with an option to buy rather than an obligation, allowing both club and player to focus entirely on performances without the burden of an expensive permanent transfer hanging over every match.

Still, De Mos’ warning cannot be ignored. If Arokodare quickly settles, scores goals and builds confidence, Ajax could become the ideal club to revive both his club career and his standing with the Super Eagles.

If the criticism that inevitably accompanies life in Amsterdam begins to affect him, however, his biggest opponent may not be Eredivisie defenders but the mental demands of playing for one of Europe’s most demanding clubs.