The agent of Ajax Cape Town’s Brandon Petersen says that the club turned down an approach from Werder Bremen for the goalkeeper to go on trial at the Bundesliga club.
Read: Cup Kings - Are SSU Stealing Chiefs' Crown?
Petersen’s Ajax future looked to be coming to an end during the recent transfer window as he inched closer to joining Mamelodi Sundowns, however that move didn’t materialise as the player decided against it, following their signing of Reyaad Pieterse.
Now, having played a major role in the Urban Warriors’ impressive start to life in the National First Division, Lance Davids has explained why the 23-year-old was eager to move on.
Speaking in this week’s issue of Soccer Laduma, Davids said, “Look, he was denied a trial at a German club, Werder Bremen because Ari said there was a situation at the club so he couldn’t go. And then there was also a national team camp when he was also denied the chance to go.
“The club said there was a miscommunication, but Stuart Baxter said to me that he was called up, Ajax said he couldn’t go – once again, because of a situation at the club.”
Ajax chairman, Ari Efstathiou, denied that that was the case though, saying, “How could we deny a trial for him at Werder Bremen? Our history with players moving to Europe is evidence of our stance. We would never deny a player the opportunity.
“With regards to the Bafana call-up last year, there was some miscommunication with the call-up, which was discussed with Brandon and his agent. We would never stand in the way of a national call-up unless we are desperate in needing the player for an internal game and the game is not on an official FIFA date.”
To read the full interview about Petersen, who will be a free agent next year, check out this week’s issue of Soccer Laduma.