The stage is set at Old Trafford as Manchester United take on Fulham to get their Premier League season off the mark on Friday.
Besides the usual excitement of the new season starting, this match is even more special because it could see three debuts for the club.
Joshua Zirkzee didn’t make it off the bench vs Manchester City, while Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui’s arrival was confirmed after that match.
Read More: Man United vs Fulham prediction with three debuts expected
All three are in line to make their debut and De Ligt, in particular, is an exciting addition due to the pedigree he comes with.
Ahead of his United debut, the Dutchman has revealed what he learned from Cristiano Ronaldo in his first interview.
Matthijs de Ligt on Cristiano Ronaldo
When it comes to knowing what it takes to succeed under the intense glare that comes with playing for Manchester United, few players in modern football are better equipped to tell the tale than Cristiano Ronaldo.
His second spell didn’t go as well but watching the Portuguese in action during the first spell when he arrived from Sporting Lisbon was a breathtaking experience.
Of course, he would go on to score far more goals for other clubs but his spell at Old Trafford remains special for the building blocks of the player he would become.
A big reason why that happened is because of the longevity he has achieved through sheer drive and professionalism, and De Ligt revealed what he learned from Ronaldo.
In an interview with the Man United, he said: “Cristiano made a big history here [legacy]. He takes care of his body like a temple.
“The way he treats his body, the way he sleeps, the way he eats, it is such a big example for young players like me.”
De Ligt played with Ronaldo at Juventus, when the Dutchman was taking his first steps in a top-five league after his remarkable breakthrough at Ajax under Erik ten Hag.
A who’s who of legends
The list of esteemed players De Ligt has learned from and played with is a who’s who of legends which is why there’s so much excitement around his pedigree.
Still only 25, he has won leagues in three countries, and captained club and national team, and the reaction of Bayern fans to De Ligt’s transfer said so much more than any opinion piece could.
De Ligt said in the interview that he takes the defensive excellence from the likes of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, and the serial winning mentality from Bayern stalwarts like Manuel Neuer, and he hopes to bring all of that and more to Old Trafford.
This has felt like a transfer a long time in the making as he has been linked to United every time he has moved clubs.
Joining the club at this time when there is a feeling of something special building adds credence to the idea that he can be a big part of the present and the future.
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