Manchester United are getting the Matthijs de Ligt the club paid for, and the challenge begins now.
Manchester United’s deal to sign Matthijs de Ligt this summer came at a major knockdown price in comparison to his previous fees.
Juventus paid £67.5 million to sign De Ligt from Ajax. Three years on, Bayern Munich spent £68 million to land De Ligt.
Two years later De Ligt signs for Manchester United for just £38 million. It is a major discount. And it’s reflective of his situation.
Matthijs de Ligt seeking Erik ten Hag reset
Matthijs de Ligt signed for Juventus in 2019 for a huge fee, expected that he would be one of the world’s greatest defenders.
As a Kopa Trophy winner, and captain of Ajax as a teenager, expectations for De Ligt were sky high.
Meeting those expectations has been a little trickier. Juventus were able to cash in on the Dutchman for the fee they paid – but Bayern were unable to do the same.
Closing out the 2023/24 season, there was an acceptance that Matthijs de Ligt was now a rung below the elite centre-backs. He is very good, a top defender – but an absolute top player of his generation, no.
This was baked into the price Manchester United paid, and he underlined why with his two errors for the Netherlands, the second of which saw him substituted at half-time against Germany.
It was an unfortunate situation, with Dutch boss Ronald Koeman looking to take him out of the firing line.
It was reflective of De Ligt’s status. A player not at the top of his game, not living up to his potential, and certainly not a £70 million defender.
Matthijs de Ligt seeking Erik ten Hag reset
Matthijs de Ligt was desperate to join Manchester United this summer, to reunite with his former manager at Ajax, Erik ten Hag.
De Ligt’s best spell of his career came under Ten Hag, and this was the key reason behind his desire to make the switch to Old Trafford.
If there is a manager who can get him playing back to his best, it is Ten Hag, a coach who understands his strengths and weaknesses, and a system adapted to them.
Now is not the time to judge De Ligt. He needs time back on the training ground with Ten Hag, and as his confidence builds, the mistakes will become eradicated.
Ten Hag is on record stating he believes De Ligt can become the best in the world. Now he has a chance to make it happen.
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