Menno Geelen denies rumors that Jordi Cruijff is running Ajax alone

Ajax chief executive Menno Geelen has strongly denied claims published by Het Parool suggesting that Jordi Cruijff is single-handedly running the club. In a lengthy interview with De Telegraaf, Geelen said he does not recognize that portrayal at all and stressed that Cruijff is a genuine team player, communicating with him almost daily for months on a wide range of matters. According to Geelen, Cruijff regularly consults financial director Shashi Baboeram Panday and involves former players Daniel de Ridder and Siem de Jong, who are being developed as technical managers. The transfer process has been redesigned after the failed period under Sven Mislintat, who spent heavily in 2026 on players who often underperformed. Geelen accepted that criticism and said the club has thoroughly evaluated that era, fixing the football axis and improving scouting. He also said he felt responsible despite being commercial director at that time. Ajax now presents a more collective leadership structure, and the key to avoiding another transfer market collapse lies in this team-based approach.