Erik ten Hag’s bold message to Matthijs de Ligt recalled as Man United move confirmed

Erik ten Hag’s bold message to Matthijs de Ligt has been recalled as his Manchester United move has been confirmed.

United made an impressive start to the 2024 transfer window by signing Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and beating Real Madrid to secure Leny Yoro from Lille.

The combined cost of these two signings, £88 million, meant that the club needed to offload players to fund additional transfers.

On Tuesday, it was announced that the club had signed Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui as the third and fourth signings of the summer.

Both players worked with manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax, and De Ligt, at just 19, was the captain of the Dutch club under the United boss.

While the centre-back’s career has not been as remarkable as first anticipated, partly due to injuries sustained in his early twenties, he is excited to reunite with the manager and attempt to reignite his career.

“Erik ten Hag shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me, and I cannot wait to work with him again,” he told United’s club media.

The United boss has previously stated that De Ligt could become the best defender in the world. His incredible form at Ajax earned him a big-money move to Juventus.

Speaking in 2019, before the player’s move to Serie A, Ten Hag said, “I do not know if Matthijs de Ligt has shown 60 to 80 percent of his potential.

“But we are talking about one of the best defenders in Europe, and I have no doubt that he will soon be number one in this position.”

While that hasn’t quite gone according to plan yet, the defender is only 25 years old and will be aiming to prove his manager right at Old Trafford.

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