George Boateng says everybody wishes Kudus Mohammed gets more game time at Ajax ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The 21-year-old was on the verge of joining Everton this summer due to lack of game time at the Dutch champions.
Kudus boycotted training on Wednesday to force a move away from the club.
Despite his impressive performance in pre-season, the former Right to Dream Academy product has not started any game in the ongoing season.
Boateng, who started his professional career with Feyenoord in the Netherlands, believes it is not time for Kudus to leave Ajax because there is a lot to learn at the club.
“We as staff, we are not just only coaches for the players, we are also guardians; we look after them, we discuss, there’s a lot of advice being asked over time,” Boateng told Joy Sports.
“In terms of Kudus, we don’t know the ins and outs of everything. All we do know is that there’s an interest from another club in the UK.
“I think he’s developing very well. He’s in a country where football is of a high level. I’m sure if you speak to Mo, he would say he’s learned a lot in his time at Ajax.
“Whether it is time for him to leave? I’m not quite sure but all we would like to have is Mohammed Kudus to play more games, and start more [ahead of the World Cup].
“He’s had a very good preseason and when we had discussions, I complimented him about it and I said, ‘you have to keep going because this is the requirement, all you can do is perform well.
“Every time you are called upon, play well.”
It’s now clear Mohammed Kudus will stay at Ajax ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and will need to fight for playing time before the tournament in November and December.