Sensational Transfer for Dutch International Wout Weghorst: 'He's Been Sleeping in Those Pajamas for Months'

"This transfer was, of course, already expected. We all anticipated him joining FC Twente two years ago, but he chose Ajax instead," Janssen explains. That decision caused quite a stir at the time, as Weghorst had previously openly expressed his love for FC Twente, even in tears. "But I understand he's been sleeping in Twente pajamas for the past two months, so that's all sorted," jokes the former player for both Ajax and FC Twente.

Janssen has high expectations for Weghorst, despite the striker not having had his strongest years recently. "He'll arrive as a leader and a player with an enormous track record. He'll have played in a World Cup, so people will be well aware of that and will be watching him closely. He's going to walk in as a very significant figure and will undoubtedly become the first-choice striker, the man for FC Twente."

The former midfielder himself once made the switch between the two clubs, albeit in the opposite direction. Because of this, Janssen knows exactly what's demanded at De Grolsch Veste. "If he doesn't play well, he'll face criticism. The simple difference between Ajax and Twente is this: Ajax *must* win the championship, while at Twente, you aim to qualify for European football. That's a huge distinction."

According to Janssen, the club culture plays a significant role in this. "At Ajax, everything is on a very grand scale, which creates a large distance between fans and staff. Twente is also a big club, but the lines of communication are much shorter. This makes it easier to connect with fans and sponsors. The pressure is simply less intense, you notice that," Janssen continues, adding that he doesn't believe Weghorst struggled with expectations in Amsterdam. "He's not bothered by that at all. That's absolutely no problem for him."

During his time at Ajax, Weghorst often faced criticism for his play. However, Janssen doesn't believe the striker has 'declined'. "Not at all. He possesses some very dangerous qualities. In fact, I think he's improved. He has more experience, is a true winner, and is shrewd. At FC Twente, different things will be demanded than at Ajax, so he'll simply arrive as a major player."

First, Weghorst is focusing on the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Although the attacker hasn't played any minutes yet, Janssen expects that to change soon. "He knows his role with Oranje: if they're trailing, he'll be brought on to force something. He accepts that and works incredibly hard in training. I think we'll need him soon..." Janssen concludes.

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