Matthijs de Ligt to tell Manchester United his decision over transfer in coming daysManchester United have been told to expect a decision from Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt in the coming days with the Premier League club still hoping to beat Barcelona in the race to sign the centre back.Although United sources have been privately briefing that they believe Barcelona agreed a deal with the 19-year-old and his representatives months ago, tellingly that has not stopped them trying to scupper the move.
If you are convinced one of your main transfer targets has already made up his mind, why waste time and effort working so hard to get your own deal done?
Telegraph Sport revealed last month that De Ligt was still tempted by a move to United, despite the lack of Champions League football and had not made any commitment to sign for Barça before winning the league and cup double with Ajax.And there is a view in Holland that the move to United is the better option. De Ligt’s sole motivation since he first arrived in the Ajax Academy at the age of six was to turn himself into the best defender in the world and a move to England would arguably make him a more complete defender.
Although United need to begin a major rebuilding project this summer, sources close to De Ligt have indicated that appeals to him in much the same way as it did when became captain of Ajax during their own rejuvenation project two years ago.
The faster, more physical style of football in England would expose him to a completely different style of football to the one he has experienced in Holland. He is also young enough to spend five or six years in England and then move to Spain if he wished to do so.
Barcelona see De Ligt as the long-term successor to Gerard Pique, but the youngster is well aware of the fact that Pique spent several years at United and admitted he benefited hugely from his time in England, before returning to Spain.
There are also question marks as to whether De Ligt will play regularly if he signs for Barça this summer, which would mean going from Ajax captain, and the first name on the team-sheet, to a substitute in La Liga.
United, on the other hand, have made it clear they would like to build a new look defence around the most coveted teenager in Europe.De Ligt had been taking Spanish lessons for more than a year, but Telegraph Sport was informed he had begun to question whether the move to Spain was the best option for him before the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Tottenham.
That has given United a window of opportunity to make their sales pitch, even if many still believe he is Barcelona bound, both in this country, as well as Spain.
“I’m very excited for what could be coming in the near future,” said De Ligt when speaking to Dutch media. “But I’m calm too. I see it as a challenge, that’s the most important thing. There are various options, what I’m doing is looking for the best option.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/05/31/matthijs-de-ligt-tell-manchester-united-decision-transfer-coming/
