The Danish forward snubbed a move to Parkhead on deadline day in favour of a second stint with Ajax

08:38, 16 Sep 2025Updated 08:40, 16 Sep 2025

Kasper Dolberg(Image: Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)

One former Netherlands star has been left underwhelmed by Kasper Dolberg‘s return to Ajax and reckons re-signing the Celtic target shows a sign of ‘weakness’.

The former Anderlecht frontman had emerged as a late summer target for Brendan Rodgers but made it clear that he had no intention of heading to Parkhead because his focus was solely on a second stint in the Dutch capital.

The 27-year-old is back at the Johan Cruyff Arena for the first time in six years, where he scored 45 goals in 119 matches before being sold to Nice in Ligue 1 for £19million.

But Dolberg’s return has been received with a real degree of scepticism in some quarters. Ajax legend Danny Blind – a member of the de Godenzonen team that lifted the Champions League in 1995 – has questioned his old club’s decision to bring the Denmark international back and reckons that the forward will struggle to get game time ahead of veteran Wout Weghorst.

And former Netherlands and Schalke star Youri Mulder has also deemed the decision to re-sign the striker as a mistake.

Speaking to Ziggo Sport, he said: “Dolberg is coming back now, but I think that’s a bit of a sign of weakness. Bringing a player back. That’s what they did with Traore. It was a mistake to bring him back.”

Sebastian Tounetki lit up Rugby Park on his Celtic debut in Sunday’s dramatic 2-1 win over Kilmarnock.

Sebastian Tounekti put in a man of the match display on his Celtic debut(Image: SNS Group)

And ex Hoops defender Peter Grant reckons the £5.5million signing’s direct playstyle is a throwback to Parkhead wingers of yester-year.

“I thought Tounekti was the best, out on the left, he stated on GO Radio. “It was great to see a winger exciting, getting on the ball, and with his first thought being to go and take on the wing-back or full-back. He was driving at them.

“When we were at Celtic, we were always told that when the winger’s got the ball, he’s got the licence to lose possession — because he has to be positive, take people on, and get crosses into the box.

“The good thing about him was he could go either way. A couple of times he stepped inside when I thought he should have shot, but overall his decision-making in the box was good.

“I was really, really impressed with him.”

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