Learn Your Trade, Don’t Force A Move From Ajax – Liverpool Legend Advises Ghana Star Mohammed Kudus1 min read

Kudus has been linked to a big move away from Ajax, despite still having two years on his contract.

The Black Stars midfielder has been rumoured to attract interest from Manchester United and Barnes’ Liverpool.

“I advice every player to learn their trade, to be disciplined and humble. To stay at their club for a long period of time – so they can do that [learn their trade],” but football is different now anyways, it has changed. And we see that all the time, where a footballer has one good season and is transferred,” Barnes told JoySports at a football clinic in Accra.

Barnes had his breakout in English football at Watford, where he played for six years, before moving to Liverpool.

Former Manchester United boss, Alex Ferguson passed on the chance to sign Barnes before joining Liverpool. He later admitted he regretted his decision as the Jamaican contributed to the dominance of Liverpool.

“I use myself as an example; when I played, you have to show a level of consistency over a period of time, before you were transferred. Because of course when you are transferred, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on you, so unless you are able to show you can handle the pressure or do this [perform at a top level] over a period of time, and not five or six matches, I advice every player to learn their trade.”

Kudus’ contract expires in 2025. Besides Manchester United and Liverpool, the 22-year-old was reported as an Arsenal transfer target in April 2023.