‘He Really Wanted To’ – Ex-Team-mate Of Sunderland Star Reveals Big Motivation | OneFootball

Ed Sykes/Getty Images

Lazio star Kenneth Taylor has revealed he is still in contact with his former Ajax team-mate Brian Brobbey and was proud to see him score a hat-trick for Sunderland against Manchester City at the weekend.

Brobbey began his football journey at Ajax, then, after a brief spell at RB Leipzig, returned to the club in 2022, but departed again in 2025 to join Sunderland.

The Dutch striker made eight goal contributions in 31 Premier League games throughout the last campaign and helped Sunderland secure Europa League football in what was a superb season.

Enjoying this story?

Add Inside Futbol as a preferred source on Google.

However, at the start of this season, the 24-year-old struggled to find the back of the net in the first few games, before scoring a hat-trick against Manchester City at the weekend.

Now, with the ongoing international break, Brobbey has arrived at the Netherlands national team camp and reunited with former Ajax team-mate Taylor.

Taylor left Ajax at the start of the year to join Italian outfit Lazio, but despite both him and Brobbey going in different directions, he revealed that they talk to each other daily.

The Lazio star said that along with regular talks about football, the pair also have conversations about other friends and the things that are bothering them.

Taylor told Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur: “Of course I missed him.

“I’m still familiar with a lot of the guys. But I speak to him [Brobbey] every day.

“Just this and that, about football and other things, what friends are doing.

“If there are things bothering us, we share that with each other too.”

Moreover, Taylor expressed that he is immensely proud of Brobbey after he bagged a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Premier League.

He revealed that the Sunderland man was desperate for goals.

“Of course I’m proud of him.

“It was good for him; he really wanted to score.”

Brobbey was able to put the ball in the back of the net three times against Manchester City due to his excellent positioning, and he has admitted he has become more aware of his surroundings.

The 24-year-old has been called up to the national team for the upcoming Nations League fixtures by new head coach Xavi Hernandez.

At the last major international competition, which was the World Cup, Brobbey scored three goals in four matches for the Netherlands.