Zinchenko Faces Season-Ending Injury, Impacting Ajax and His World Cup Aspirations

omidbasir- Oleksandr Zinchenko has suffered a significant setback following a serious knee injury sustained in the match against Fortuna Sittard. The newly acquired Ajax player will be sidelined for the remainder of the season and, regrettably, will also miss the upcoming World Cup. According to Johan Inan, a journalist for Algemeen Dagblad, Zinchenko’s absence is a severe blow for Ajax.

In the Algemeen Dagblad football podcast, Inan expressed that the likelihood of Ajax securing a replacement for Zinchenko in the short term appears slim. “While one could explore the free transfer market, I do not anticipate many viable options remaining,” he stated. The loss of Zinchenko is a considerable disappointment for Ajax, especially as he had shown great enthusiasm upon joining the team. “From what I have heard from those within Ajax, he arrived eager and was looking forward to the upcoming six months.”

For Zinchenko himself, the situation is particularly distressing. Inan remarked, “He aimed to assist Ajax in securing a second-place finish and to help Ukraine succeed in the playoffs. The World Cup was meant to be the pinnacle of his career. He has participated in three European Championships but has yet to experience a World Cup.” Although Inan does not believe Zinchenko’s injury will directly jeopardize Ajax’s chances of finishing in second place, he acknowledged that it represents a significant setback. “You need to view Zinchenko as Ajax’s most crucial winter acquisition. In the initial days of his joining, they recognized that he was precisely what they had been searching for.”