Van der Vaart was critical of the reaction to Brandt's arrival in Amsterdam, describing it as "over the top". He compared Brandt's playing style to his own, but quickly dismissed the comparison, stating that Brandt is "only 20% of what I was". Van der Vaart did, however, praise Brandt's calm and helpful nature, particularly in his interactions with younger players.
The former Ajax player has also expressed frustration with the way Brandt was received by the Ajax fans. Van der Vaart felt that the excitement was unwarranted, saying that "Ajax is not that small" and that many players would want to join the club due to its reputation and the presence of manager Jordi Cruijff.
Van der Vaart's comments come as Ajax looks to build on the transfer of Brandt, who has joined the club from Borussia Dortmund. The Dutch national team's former international has expressed his optimism about the club's plans to challenge for the top spot in the league.