Dutch journalist Marcel van der Crane has spoken of the difficulties Dutch sides have competing in Europe, revealing Real Madrid star Gareth Bale’s wages are equal to that of the entire Ajax squad.
Ajax shocked Europe on Tuesday night by eliminating holders Madrid from the Champions League, a stunning 4-1 victory at the Bernabeu ensuring the Amsterdam side progressed 5-3 on aggregate.
Van der Crane, a journalist at the Telegraaf in the Netherlands, spoke of the economic difficulties facing Dutch clubs with their prized assets often lost to more financially powerful clubs.
“Our top three clubs (in the Netherlands) every year lose all their best players,” van der Crane told 5 Live Final Score.
“It is something we cannot stop.
“Marc Overmars, the technical director of Ajax, the former Arsenal winger, was explaining today that Gareth Bale, on his own, has exactly the same in wage package per season as the entire Ajax squad.
“Well that really sums it up, it just means that the players go for a bigger package.”