Led by their young stars, Ajax have warmed hearts all over the world this season with their stunning Champions League run. After their first leg win away to Tottenham, the Dutch side sit just 90 minutes away from a dream Champions League final. In their squad could have been Mink Peeters - if he hadn't decided to move to Real Madrid's academy, that is.
Dutch youngster Mink Peeters, 20, played alongside the likes of de Ligt, van der Beek and Frenkie de Jong in Ajax's academy - and had it not been for his desire to pursue a career overseas, he could have lined up alongside them in their Champions League semi-final last night.
In 2014, Peeters decided to leave Ajax and try his luck in Real Madrid's academy. 'Los Blancos' saw plenty of potential in the young Dutchman and convinced him to make the move over to the Spanish capital.
Although he debuted in the UEFA Youth League, a collarbone injury forced him to leave Real Madrid as he wasn't able to prove his worth to them, and the Spanish giants quickly sought to find him a new club.
He was loaned out to VVV Venlo, Almere City and Lleida Esportiu, but couldn't make a significant impact at any of these clubs. He played just 90, 97 and 32 minutes at these clubs respectively - all of this in a season and a half
Nowadays, Peeters finds himself without a team after leaving Real Madrid Castilla, and will watch his former Ajax teammates compete in the semi-finals whilst wondering what could have been...