Nigerian legend who won Champions League title with Ajax 'attacks' former Man United boss

– Finidi George made history with Ajax Amsterdam

– The Nigerian star played a role in their Champions League triumph in 1995 but left them a year later

– Finidi revealed his former manager forced him out of the club over a comment he made to a reporter

Former Super Eagles winger Finidi George has revealed that former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal forced him out of Ajax.

The Nigerian legend was instrumental to the Dutch side winning the Champions League title in 1995 but quickly lost his place after granting an interview at the end of the game.

George, 49, said his manager back then was not pleased with his comments and that led the signing of Tijani Babangida in 1996.

“Van Gaal told me he was going to buy Tijani Babaginda and make him the first-choice right-winger at Ajax and that I’m free to leave,” Finidi told Bioreports in an exclusive interview.

“He said this because I made a comment to the press which he did not like. I was asked about my future at Ajax and the only thing I said: ‘Everything is possible in football.’

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The legendary winger added: “After that interview, Van Gaal called me into his office and asked why I said that to the press and I told him that everything is truly possible in football, that was when he told me he will buy Babaginda to replace me.

Finidi believes he probably would have ended up playing for Real Madrid had he decided to see out his contract at the Johan Cruyff Arena side.

He added: “If I had known, I wouldn’t have been bothered to leave, I would have just stayed and finished my contract with the club even if I don’t play regularly and move as a free agent to a new club the next season where I would have made more money.

“Real Madrid came for me but they couldn’t meet up Ajax asking price as at that time and that was why I moved to Real Betis.”

Meanwhile, the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner said the Dutch tactician was hard to please after citing the moment they won a game 7-1 yet, he got angry at them for conceding.

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“Van Gaal is a very tough manager. I remember we won a game 7-1 and he (Van Gaal) was angry we conceded one goal.

“I was surprised because we scored seven goals and he was still angry. I remember telling Kanu that this man is weird but now that I’m a coach I understand what he was doing then. He never wanted us to relent and that is how coaches should be.”

Bioreports 

earlier reported that former Nigeria international Finidi George has named his all-time Super Eagles best XI and no doubt some notable names are missing.

The one-time Champions League winner with Dutch League side Ajax Amsterdam made an incredible impact on the pitch which earned global recognition in the 90s.

Finidi represented the three-time African kings twice at the FIFA World Cup – 1994 and 1994 and could have made 2002 shortlist but was dropped at the last minute.

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