- Matthijs de Ligt officially joined Manchester United a few days ago.
- The player has struggled for form since leaving Ajax Amsterdam.
- The players will be reunited with Erik ten Hag.
After two and a half years with Ajax. Three years with Juventus and another two years with Bayern Munich this summer, Netherlands international defender Matthijs de Ligt has decided. To join Premier League giants Manchester United for an initial fee of £38.5 million.
Five years ago, De Ligt was one of the most promising young defenders in Europe. At the age of 19, he captained Erik ten Hag ‘s Ajax side to the Champions League semi-finals and became the first defender to win the Golden Boy award.
De Ligt has broken a number of records, including becoming the youngest player to play for Ajax and the youngest player to represent his home country since 1931. As well as becoming the most expensive defender in the Italian top flight. After joining Juventus for £67.5m in 2019.
The 25-year-old defender won a Serie A title and a Coppa Italia in 117 appearances for Juventus. Before moving to Bayern in 2022 for £65.6m. Where he won the Bundesliga title. But was not a regular for the Bavarians and moved to United to prove himself again.
The move to Old Trafford will see De Ligt reunite with former boss Ten Hag and former Ajax team-mates Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez and Antony all now United players.
De Ligt is the second new defender for Manchester United this year. After the arrival of French centre-half Leni Yoro from Lille for £52m. But was ruled out for three months with a pre-season injury.
Simon Stone, a famous journalist from “BBC”, said: “Lisandro Martinez must be seen as the first choice left-back position, which means De Ligt and Harry Maguire will have to fight for the other vacant position until Yoro is fit to return.”
“Ten Hag often thinks Maguire’s physicality doesn’t allow him to open up the game quickly enough. When United play out from the back. It was clear in the Community Shield that this is the approach United want to take this season.”
Interestingly, De Ligt’s transfer fee has been steadily decreasing, from Ajax to Juventus for £67.5m. Then Bayern for £65.6m and Manchester United for £38.5m. Which is quite unusual given his skills, experience and age.
Stone continued: “He played a lot for Bayern. But it was a time when they were not performing well overall, similar to Juventus. Bayern almost lost the title to Borussia Dortmund in 2023 and Bayer Leverkusen last season.”
“It means he has been under the spotlight for five years now and critics have been picking on the things he doesn’t do well, rather than the positives like leadership and confidence. It means most people feel he is no better or better than the De Ligt of 2019.”
De Ligt needs to prove to everyone again that he is still one of the top defenders in Europe and reuniting with Ten Hag at a https://ufabet999.app club like Manchester United is a good way to restore his confidence.