Ajax attacking midfielder Dusan Tadic was injured when robbers ambushed him outside his Amsterdam home on Wednesday, according to Dutch media.
According to national broadcaster NOS, the apparently targeted attack on the star Serbian player in late July was the latest in a string of robberies on Dutch celebrities.
Tadic was approached by two men wearing motorcycle helmets as he stepped out of his car outside his home in the Dutch capital’s south two weeks ago, according to the daily tabloid De Telegraaf.
“It seems they wanted to rob him of his valuable wrist-watch,” the paper said.
“After a short pursuit Tadic was involved in a scuffle in which he managed to open the visor of one of the helmets and hit the robber, the paper said.
Tadic then ran into a nearby cafe and called the police.
The robbers got away and no arrests have been made, the paper added.
A few days later, during Ajax’s season opener against PSV, the footballer was seen with plasters on his hand, according to Amsterdam daily Het Parool.
The attack on Tadic is the latest in a string of such assaults on celebrities and sports figures.
Last year, former PSV attacker Eran Zahavi and his family were kidnapped and robbed of their belongings and money.
Rappers Ali B and Lil Kleine were also targeted, as was social media star Nikkie de Jager, who was tied up and beaten during a robbery at her home in Uden, near Eindhoven, two years ago.
Dusan Tadic plays with plasters on
While he was seen with plasters on his right hand during Ajax’s Johan Cruyff Shield defeat to PSV Eindhoven on July 30, his assist against Sittard elevated him to Eredivise’s best player in the previous 22 years. This was his 118th assist in the Netherlands’ top-tier football league. It is worth noting that the Serb has been a key player for the Dutch giants since his arrival in 2018.
Tadic has 91 goals in 195 games for the team in all competitions since joining from Southampton. Despite manager Erik ten Hag’s move to Premier League giants Man United, he has already helped the team win three Eredivisie titles, and the team appears well prepared to challenge for the Eredivisie 2022-23 title.
