Former Ajax and Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt has admitted that an ex-Manchester United teammate caught his eye while he was growing up.
Matthijs de Ligt made a real name for himself in the Ajax youth set-up and enjoyed major success in his homeland after his breakout period at the Dutch club.
The 26-year-old Manchester United centre-back was a core part of the famed Ajax team that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 under Erik ten Hag.
De Ligt moved to Juventus in 2019 and later signed for Bayern Munich in 2022 before he was reunited with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
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Matthijs de Ligt explains why former Man Utd midfielder Christian Eriksen was someone that he admired
Christian Eriksen, much like Matthijs de Ligt, was able to establish himself at Ajax early in his career after he came through the academy ranks at the Eredivisie side.
The 34-year-old Danish midfielder’s spell at Ajax led to Tottenham bringing Eriksen to the Premier League in 2013 amid Manchester United’s interest at the time.
Speaking to Manchester United’s official website, De Ligt admitted that he deeply admired Eriksen because he played as a midfielder earlier in his playing career.
“I was a midfielder also in the youth, and he was playing exactly in my position,” he said.
“So, he was really, at that time, an example of one of the players that I really looked up to.
“When he came through, there were already people speaking like he was one of the biggest talents they had in years, so then you naturally [start] paying attention to how he does.
“So yeah, you kind of identify yourself with the player, and it’s just nice to see how far he has made it.”
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Matthijs de Ligt on his experience of sharing the pitch with former Ajax talent Christian Eriksen at Man Utd
De Ligt arrived at Old Trafford from Bayern Munich in 2024 and the Netherlands defender played alongside Christian Eriksen in the Dane’s final season at the club.
The former Juventus and Bayern Munich star admitted that Eriksen was one of his footballing idols alongside Red Devils and Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
“It’s funny that I also actually played with him,” De Ligt added.
“Also with Cristiano, of course. But yeah, he was one of my biggest idols when I was younger.”
Eriksen, who lifted both the FA Cup and the League Cup under Erik ten Hag at Man Utd, left Old Trafford in 2025 and signed for Wolfsburg on a free transfer.
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