Former Ghana international Matthew Amoah has opened up on his behind-the-scenes contribution to NAC Breda’s decision to sign André Ayew, revealing that his role, though limited in scope, proved decisive at a crucial stage of the transfer process.
Amoah disclosed that he was approached by the club’s leadership shortly after reports emerged linking Ayew with a move to the Dutch side. While he stressed that he had no involvement in formal negotiations, the hierarchy sought his expert assessment of the forward’s physical condition and overall readiness.
“It was only 10 percent, but it was literally one of the major ones because I was consulted by the club hierarchy about his fitness and condition after rumors of his transfer broke in the airwaves,” Amoah revealed.
As a former elite striker and a member of NAC Breda’s coaching setup tasked with overseeing the development of attackers, Amoah’s opinion carried significant influence. He explained that he had been tracking Ayew’s training progress from afar, relying on footage from Ghana to form a clear picture of the player’s condition.
“I then told them he was quite fit because I saw most of his training videos at his dad’s club, Nania FC, with other teammates like Wakaso and others,” he explained.
However, Amoah was quick to caution against unrealistic expectations, drawing a clear line between physical fitness and competitive sharpness. He advised the club to factor in a conditioning phase should the transfer go through.
“So I told the team authorities he could be fit but not match-fit, so we could condition him if we are able to secure his signature and get him ready to help us.” he added.
Ayew, who had been without a club for several months before sealing the move, has since linked up with NAC Breda and begun settling into the squad. His vast experience and leadership qualities are already making an impression, both on the training ground and within the dressing room.
