Tuesday, 11th December, 2012
Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen has admitted that his heart is still with Dutch giants Ajax, with him calling the place "home".
Vertonghen, who captained the Eredivisie champions, left the Amsterdam ArenA during the summer to move to Spurs, with his desire to experience Premier League football at White Hart Lane too strong to resist.
But despite the Belgian having bid farewell to Holland, Ajax remain firmly in his heart, so much so that he thinks of Amsterdam as home rather than his native Belgium.
"I’m just as nervous when they play, I watch the score all the time on my mobile", Vertonghen told NUsport.
"It still feels like my family", he continued.
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"When I go home, I’m not going to Belgium, but to Amsterdam."
And Vertonghen’s verdict of Frank de Boer’s current crop this season? Not quite as good as when he turned out for them, but still able to punch their weight in the Dutch top flight.
"Truly, this Ajax. The team are not as good as last season, but when they have to make a stand they are there. Especially in the big games."
Vertonghen has settled well into life at Spurs, appearing for Andre Villas-Boas’ men in 15 of the club’s Premier League games so far.
The 25-year-old has also featured regularly in Europe, clocking up six Europa League appearances.
He is under contract at White Hart Lane until 2016 and is considered a key figure in the club’s backline.
Ajax meanwhile sit fourth in the Eredivisie, three points behind league leaders PSV Eindhoven.
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