KLAAS-JAN HUNTELAAR has already been crown as the next flop of the city of Milano, and the country of Italy, but RossoneriBlog.com’s Meytar Zeevi stops for a minute and ask who is to blame for Klaas’ form, as reflecting over the Dutchman career…

It seems like the career of the Ajax wonderboy stopped at age of 25, when he moved to Real Madrid. Klaas thought he would make his breakthrough in the Spanish giants, but did not prove his €27m worth under Coach Bernd Schuster: recording 13 starts and 7 subs performances, in half a season, as scoring eight goals.

But the story of ‘The Hunter’ starts before Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam. The 26-year-old played his first year as a senior with PSV Eindhoven, however, played in the youth team, where he quickly settled himself as an unstoppable goalscorer, leading the goalscoring table in the youth league with 26 goals out of 23 matches.

Agent: Vidic To Milan? Will Never Happen
AC Milan Sign New Sponsorship Deal

*THERE IS A POLL AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE

At 2003, when was only 18-year-old, the young striker way to PSV’s first team was blocked, as he was sent to two loan spells, at De Graafschap, where he also got none options to feature, as playing only nine games, and at AGOVV Apeldoorn a year later, when he was maybe more complete, as getting more chances, as went on the pitch 25 times and scored 26 goals during one season.

Huntelaar continued his way at Netherlands: after finishing his loan spell with Apeldoorn, he rejected a renewal at PSV Eindhoven, and moved for to the north of Holland, to SC Heerenveen. The player, like in every club he played bef0re, settling quickly and did not have any troubles with scoring goals. The enchanting striker left the Frisian club when had scored 33 goals in 46 matches.

From there on, it was simple: Netherland has a new legend, from the creator of Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Dennis Bergkamp…Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Like anyone of these three legends, also Huntelaar played for Ajax (later on they all played at Italy, for the Milano teams in particularly), who has been considered for many years as the no. 1 exporter of young Dutch players.

Huntelaar arrived into Ajax in January 2o06, when was highly-rated at the Netherlands. Klaas played two and a half years for Ajax, and there he got his nickname: ‘The Hunter’ for his amazing ability to score goals and basically hunt them. Klaas always had an eye for goals, and also at Ajax, his success was great, finishing his 2.5 years with 76 netting in 96 matches, as becoming the next prince of Holland.

It didn’t take too long until ‘The Hunter’ received interests from European sides. His fee was around €20m, but Spanish giants Real Madrid secured the transfer of the Dutchman by offering €27m for Ajax. Coach Bernd Schuster wanted another striker with Raul, and he brought a wonderboy, who was already 25 in this point. As mentioned above, Huntelaar failed to provide and fulfill all the expectations he came with.

Huntelaar presented as Real Madrid player

At the last summer, the Rossoneri, AC Milan, were looking for a striker. Luis Fabiano of Sevilla and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Real Madrid were the final nominees. After differences in fees with Sevilla, Milan secured a deal with Los Blancos president Florentino Perez over Huntelaar for €15m. After Milan sold Kaka to Real for €65m, the deal was easier to finalize as Huntelaar joined Milan in the summer of 2009.

If you’ve been watching the correct season of AC Milan, then you know that Huntelaar in no more Hunter…

AC Milan stated that they did the right decision when signed Huntelaar, while Klaas himself told the Milan were the best team he could have joined to, after rejecting deals from English side Tottenham Hotspur and German’s Hamburger SV. Huntelaar made his debut for Milan in the TIM Cup against Inter Milan and Juventus, where he was in weak form, creating no chances at all.

But the Milan of that time was really bad itself, so Huntelaar is not the one to blame. Klaas played 18 times for the Rossoneri and scoring three goals (one in penalty). The first and the second goals of the Dutchman were in the same match, against Catania, where he saved Milan with a double strike, after coming on as a very late sub in the 84 minute. Then, Huntelaar showed his great skills, scoring two amazing goals.

Huntelaar celebrates after scoring for AC Milan against Catania

But, Brazilian Coach Leonardo overlooked Huntelaar in the next game, as preferred to use Marco Borriello instead, even though Klaas was on the wave after scoring a brace that equals three points. Leonardo claimed Huntelaar was off form comparing to Filippo Inzaghi and Borriello, as giving him not many chances to show off his skills, while the player is in World Cup risk.

The five words: I WANT TO PLAY MORE are key words for Huntelaar this season, and unfortunately not getting time on the pitch means Netherlands Coach Bert van Marwijk must think about whom he puts in the middle of the attack, as there are enough players who can fit into this role, such as Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel and Eljero Elia.

Huntelaar celebrates a goal with Arsenal striker Robin van Persie in Netherlands game

When the wonderkid left the building? The talent of Huntelaar is still there, but something stops him. The Italian media has little faith in him, as did not choose him as the fl0p of the season, as Felipe Melo or Juventus won the “honorable” title, but maybe Leonardo is the one who misses on the Dutch striker, who is looking for a way to continue his career in the right way after left Ajax in 2008.

So are actually the nominees to replace the 26-year-old if he leaves the Rossoneri in the summer: Edin Dzeko is the no. 1 target along with Nemanja Vidic (defender) apparently. The Wolfsburg striker has maintained his great form from last season, despite his side is not as good as been last season. Huntelaar is a great striker, but he lacks something, unsettled. He just disappeared.

There are few questions regarding Huntelaar, such as: is Leonardo the one to blame for Huntelaar being a flop and not being into use to much, or it is just Huntelaar who is being a flop, if so, for the weak form.

This is the new poll: