Certain signs do not lie, from his first days at Sporting, a long Covid forced him to miss a good part of his first months in Mauve. It was premonitory of a long series of other problems of the kind, culminating in this new injury after only one tenure. Too bad because he has one of the biggest potentials. He proved it again on the Union pitch.
Abundance as a defect
Ashimeru went very far in the effort. Too much, certainly. He vomited on the field. It was a fly's fault according to official statements, but his face said a lot about the intensity of his work. Before the break, he was already fiddling with his legs to try to relieve them of the pain that was creeping up his calves.
An illustration of its finest quality and its biggest flaw. Ashimeru is a cornucopia. Even when it is empty, it still gives. To the point of hurting yourself. The right dosage has never been part of its DNA.
He managed to maintain a semblance of caution during his first appearances because he only felt at 70% of his capacity. He refused to carry the ball too much because he didn't consider he had all his sensations. “Yet Majeed has this gift of running as fast with leather as without”explained Brian Riemer before the match.
The hard season
The technician also smiled when discussing the last time he started Ashimeru. “You remember ? It was at Union in July and no one believed in this midfield (with Diawara and Arnstad).”
Of the trio, Ashimeru has the greatest potential. If he has not exploited it since the arrival of the new coach, it is because of a string of injuries. Riemer has never hidden his appreciation for it. From the preparation at the end of 2022, he caught the eye of his coach for his pressing qualities. He had also played the entire second part of the season as a starter.
A muscle injury forced him to take long months of rest at the start of his career. An absence that was not supposed to last this long. His return suddenly accelerated when he decided to join Ghana to compete in the Can. His Achilles tendon injury in the last group match of the tournament made Anderlecht cringe. The choice was made to let him prepare for the playoffs but if we are told that he could have been on the field a good three weeks earlier.
Bad luck has always stuck with him. After convincing playoffs in 2022, Ashimeru was condemned to the bench by tactical choices from Kompany whose 4-2-2-2 left no room for his profile. The 2022-23 season ended in the infirmary. Reduced due to an ankle problem, he nevertheless agreed to come into the game. He left the pitch after 18 minutes. Result: no playoffs and complicated summer preparation. The arrival of Felice Mazzù should have launched it definitively but the sauce did not take.
Anderlecht: Kasper Schmeichel hesitates to re-sign despite a salary that would be doubled!
His teammates praise him
He is so good and so talented.
His reputation in the locker room remained intact despite the injuries. Sources say that when he is fit, he is always among the top students. He was also praised by his teammates after the match at Union.
“To come out with a match at this level after so much bad luck is greatwhispers Kasper Schmeichel. He is so talented. He showed he was a good player.” And Mats Rits adds: “He has unique and special qualities. He is strong in small spaces, keeps the ball well, brings energy and tempo to the match.”
A unclear future
Will next season be that of the definitive revelation of his undeniable talent? One year from the end of his contract, he finds himself at a crossroads. No decision has been made for his future. Anderlecht could have sold him this winter. Turkish, American, English D2 and French clubs were interested in him but the player was vetoed by the RSCA. Riemer saw him as his reinforcement for the playoffs.
Will this be enough to extend his stay in Brussels? He must sit down with management at the end of the season to take stock of his future. If we only talked about quality, Anderlecht could keep it but this news will certainly make them doubt.
