Vertonghen opens up on “extremely special” tie against former club

Tottenham have as many as four first-team players in their squad who have all played for Ajax before, in Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Davinson Sanchez.

This connection ads an extra bit of drama ahead of the Champions League semifinal clash between the sides.

Jan Vertonghen, who captained the Dutch giants, and won two league titles and one Dutch Cup during his time at Amsterdam before moving to North London, has now spoken about his time as a young player coming through the ranks at Ajax.

Speaking to the Guardian, the 31-year-old reminisced about the time he decided to move to Amsterdam when he was 16 years of age. “I had doubts about going to Ajax because I don’t like moving,” he said. “I rememb...