Ligt’s Matthijs has implemented advice that he could have joined Manchester United in 2019, insisting that they were never an option when he signed with Juventus to be informed of the world’s defenders.
Although he is only 21 years old, De Ligt is already a family call in European football, having risen to the ranks of Ajax and has earned a reputation as the young defender of the world.
His promotion to Ajax is fast and impressive, allowing the youngest player to play a Grand European Final, the youngest captain of the club and the first Winner of the Golden Boy Award, awarded to the most productive European under-21 player, to be a defender.
Much of De Ligt’s performance in his Ajax debut was similar to his skill with the ball, many expected him to register for Barcelona, such was his technical talent, although United were also said to be in contention.
Therefore, his move to Juve was a marvel at first, but it is categorical that United, which connected more recently, never did a technique and the change to Turin made sense in the context of his dream of being the most productive defender in the world.
“Honestly, I never heard from them [United],” De Ligt told The Telegraph.
“It’s like school, like math. It’s a long process. You put the opposites and the cons and, in the end, I chose Juventus. “
While De Ligt may not have reached the expected highs yet, with injuries that turned out to be disruptive this season, he has shown clear signs of progress.
Although limited to only 21 appearances in all competitions this quarter, partly due to a shoulder challenge that kept him away for 3 months, the Dutchman turns out to have taken a step forward in all areas.
Your touches (86. 8 out of 70. 8), pass attempts (76 out of 61. 1), finished passes (69. 6 out of 55. 7), passes on the opposite side (25. 1 out of 20Array2), clean tackles (1. 2 out of 0. 6) and interceptions (1. 6 out of 0. 9) are all based on 90 minutes from the last quarter, looking like De Ligt enjoys more influence in its season at the moment.
“If you can do it here, you can do it anywhere,” he continued. “I’m where I need to be and where I can be informed as much as possible. There are experienced boys – [Giorgio] Chiellini, [Leonardo] Bonucci, but also a goalkeeper like [Gianluigi] Buffon and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“We all have our other features, and I’m looking to copy them, yet I look at Ronaldo and see what he does, how he’s still compatible all the time.
“I ask for advice, advice. What I’ve learned, too, is that I have to do the things that are for me. At the end of the day, you locate your own rhythm. “
Buffon returned to Juve at the time he signed De Ligt, after spending the 2018–19 season at Paris Saint-Germain, and continues at the age of 43.
He now has only 24 games, Alessandro Del Piero’s record of 705 appearances for the club, but despite his longevity and age, De Ligt mentally insists that he is as willing as a player at his best.
“Well, maybe it’s my father!” joked De Ligt. ” It’s funny because when I see him and the way he behaves, I don’t think he’s twice my age and that’s also his strength and the reason he plays. plays with his head like a 29-year-old. “