Ajax legend Danny Blind admits he held talks with Aston Villa in his playing days in an attempt to win a longer deal with the the Amsterdam club.
Blind was turning out for Ajax under Louis van Gaal at the time and had a one-year contract extension on the table from the Dutch champions.
The veteran Dutch defender wanted a two-year deal, but Van Gaal insisted that players over the age of 31 years old only be offered single year extensions.
The defender, who retired at Ajax at the age of 37 in 1999, explained to ELF Voetbal: "I was 34 years old, I had to sign a new contract, but Van Gaal said that over 31 years of age players had to take just one year.
"So I talked to Aston Villa.
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"Not to move, but the win a second year.
"I did not want to go away from Ajax", Blind added.
The 53-year-old, who is the father of Manchester United midfielder Daley Blind, who now plays under Van Gaal himself, enjoyed a hugely successful time with Ajax.
He picked up five Eredivisie titles, four Dutch Cups, one Cup Winners' Cup, one UEFA Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and one Intercontinental Cup. However, the peak of his career was collecting the Champions League for Ajax under Van Gaal in 1995.
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