Manchester United confirmed during the weekend that they had agreed with Bayern Munich to sign Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui for £43m and £17.2m, respectively, following the initial price differences.
The signings of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will increase Manchester United’s spending on defenders this summer to over £100 million after the club spent £52m on French international Leny Yoro.
However, there have been concerns about the latest Manchester United acquisition, Matthijs de Ligt, following the announcement. Manchester United Icon Rio Ferdinand is the latest United legend to raise questions about the signing of Matthijs de Ligt following Paul Scholes’ remarks earlier.
Matthijs de Ligt’s breakout with Ajax and his excellent performance with the Ajax team that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2018 propelled his big-money move to the Italian giant Juventus. But the Dutch international failed to level up to the hype at Juventus, where many expected him to hone his defensive craft under the leadership of legendary Italian defensive duo Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
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Matthijs de Ligt had another chance to regain his Ajax form at Bayern Munich, but injuries marked his time with Bayern, and he found himself as a backup to Eric Dier.
What is Rio Ferdinand’s verdict on Manchester United’s signing of Matthijs de Ligt?
Rio said: “Mazraoui will play right-back because Wan-Bissaka will be sold. I think that’s a good deal all round. I still think [Diogo] Dalot plays ahead of him.
“But with De Ligt… I watched him at Ajax; he was brilliant that year when they got to the semi-final with ten Hag before being beaten by Spurs. He was commanding, everything you wanted in a defender, composed.
“Then he goes to Juventus, you look at that and think, great move. A defender going to learn from the likes of [Leonardo] Bonucci and [Giorgio] Chiellini and all them guys. But it just fills me with disappointment with the way his career has gone since then.
“I think he had 16 starts last season. Lot of injuries, doesn’t start many games in the las two or three years, and Manchester United are spending 45-50 million pounds on him. That’s another two teams who he was a sub for, a backup defender.
“I think it’s a big ask for him. Big pressure. Big opportunity, but there is a lot of uncertainty over him after his time with Juventus and Bayern Munich.
“I don’t think he’s the answer. But it’s a great opportunity for him to go in there and be like, “you know what guys, I’m going to rectify my last few seasons and show you the real me.
“Ten Hag knows him, the character, the person, and I hope he does a good job but I am going to reserve judgement on this one.
“If Yoro and Martinez are both fit they both start No one else gets a look in. but Yoro is now out for three months. Is de Ligt fit right now to play? Eric Dier was starting in front of him and he was surplus to requirements at Spurs. That tells you a lot. This isn’t a signing that makes me go “wow.” Hopefully ten Hag gets the best out of him.”
Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will be in Manchester on Monday for their Medicals.
