After seven years, one Premier League campaign and 216 appearances, the Spaniard has decided to cut ties with the Smoggies.
It’s not the fact that Ayala wants to try something new, it’s the manner in which he’s done it.
Firefighting
Jonathan Woodgate’s team are battling relegation and wanted to be able to count on their star defender and part-time skipper to help guide them through it.
Middlesbrough’s horrendous spell of form has coincided with Ayala missing due to injury and there are legitimate concerns that his lack of availability has seriously hampered their efforts to win games.
That’s why a short-term deal was offered as his expires on June 30.
Self-Interest
Most players who had given the best part of their professional career to one club would have signed it, but Daniel Ayala said no and walked away with Middlesbrough in limbo.
Presumably he wanted to protect his value and his chances of securing one last lucrative move. Boro fans just wanted him to help protect their Championship status.
COVID-19 has brought the worst out of a lot of players and clubs. Fears over future earnings have encouraged greed. Greed encouraged self-interest, and here we are.
Not Happy
Boro fans will be shocked by this iconic display of non-loyalty, but a few might be able to see things from his point of view. Ayala clearly doesn’t want to risk aggravating an injury which took so long to heal in the first place, during a run of fixtures that has been proven to leave a trail of crocked footballers in its wake.
Ayala was going to leave anyway. He’d been offered a new deal earlier in the campaign and turned it down, so the defender’s departure won’t come as a surprise.
But leaving Boro in the lurch while they struggle to stay in the league under a rookie manager? That leaves a bitter taste in the fans mouths and Ayala has done is reputation a great disservice.