The Super Eagles striker, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, scored Ajax's opener in a 2-0 Conference League win over Atalanta.
Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare scored Ajax's opener in their 2-0 Conference League win over Atalanta on Thursday evening, and then had the press room laughing. The result was Ajax's first win in this season's competition after they lost their opening match to Hajduk Split. He also set up Abdellah Ouazane for the second goal in the 93rd minute.
At the press conference, Willem Vissers of de Volkskrant introduced himself in English as 'William' and praised the striker. "I just want to say that you're an incredibly nice guy," he began. Arokodare thanked him at length, then turned to the other reporters with a broad smile: "Can everybody please be like William?" Reporters erupted in laughter, and a fellow journalist quipped that Vissers had set the bar very high for everyone else.
The loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers runs until summer 2027, and the option to buy him is reportedly valued at between 18 and 20 million euros. Asked by Mike Verweij of De Telegraaf about staying in Amsterdam for longer, he gave a guarded response: "That's something between Ajax and Wolves; I can't say anything about it."
Verweij then put the question of a permanent transfer to him, and his reply was more direct: "Of course I'm open to that." He went on to tell reporters how he feels about the club:
"I love it here. I love being here. The people are great, the supporters are great, the team are great, the club are great and you're all great."
"But William is even nicer," he joked.
A journalist noted that Ajax sporting director Jordi Cruyff only needed to pay the reported fee to secure him permanently. Arokodare cut in: "And maybe increase my salary," which drew laughter. Reports suggest his current wage at Wolves could prove harder for Ajax to match than the fee, which is not expected to be the main obstacle.
Against Atalanta he started on the bench, with Marcos Leonardo again preferred, and came on in the 66th minute. "I'm a patient person. Of course everyone wants to play and start, but Leo played very well in the previous match and the coach thought he deserved to start," he said. He does not see Leonardo as a rival: "We're not competing with each other, because when you play in the same team, you can't compete with each other."
He was modest about his own part in the win. "If you're an Ajax player, you're important anyway, whether you start or not." He added: "I'm just happy I could help my team with the first goal and contribute to the victory."
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