Norway manager Ståle Solbakken has publicly urged Kristoffer Ajer to leave Brentford this summer.
On Friday, the Brentford man played the full 90 minutes in his preferred role as a centre-back in Norway’s 3-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Italy.
Ståle Solbakken is unhappy with the 27-year-old’s role at Brentford and [NRK](https://www.nrk.no/sport/reagerer-pa-at-stale-solbakken-meiner-kristoffer-ajer-bor-bytte-klubb-fra-brentford-1.17447524) in Norway have relayed his comments.
The former Celtic man’s game time was largely restricted last season due to two different injuries. To put it in context, he played 1,533 minutes from 25 games and Thomas Frank mainly used him as a fullback.
According to the national team manager, the Norway international has qualities to become a regular centre-back. He’s of the belief it’s difficult for Ajer to achieve it at Brentford and has advised him to consider his future with the Bees.
_“He can be a very good and stable centre-back, and he was today, but he has to change clubs. He cannot play right-back in every third game if he is to be a proper, safe and good centre-back. Because he has all the prerequisites,”_ he said.
Solbakken is aware his comments may not go down well, especially at the Premier League club. Despite this, he insists Ajer has to make a decision on his future.
_“I think Ajer would have been better suited to playing centre-back in another league. He has had some tough injuries in England,”_ Solbakken explained.
_“He will never be a super right-back, at the same level as he is as a centre-back. At the age he is now, I think he is allowed to put his foot down. You can’t be a ‘cover’ right-back at his age now._
_“Many people get angry with me when I say things like that publicly, but I think we should be a little honest about it. Not that I’m going to interfere with Brentford selling him, but he’s at an age and is a type of player who can develop into a very stable, good defender at a high level.”_
The Brentford player also talked about his desire to play in the heart of the defence.
_“I prefer to play centre-back. It is incredibly fun to do it for the national team, so I hope to do it for the club too,”_ he added.