Julian Brandt has been confronted with criticism from Rafael van der Vaart, a former Ajax player and Real Madrid footballer. Initially, Van der Vaart was not positive about Brandt's arrival at Ajax, but later changed his opinion. Brandt has stated that he prefers to be left alone with such criticism, acknowledging that it is a normal part of the job. He also mentioned that he is happy with his decision to join Ajax. Brandt has been a key player for the Amsterdam club, and his decision to join the team has been vindicated by his performances.