Football News: Matthijs De Ligt Reunites with Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United
In a significant move for Manchester United, the club has secured the signing of Matthijs De Ligt, marking the fifth former Ajax player to join forces with manager Erik Ten Hag. This reunion could prove to be the perfect tonic to restore De Ligt’s form, which earned him the 2018 Golden Boy award as the most impressive young player in Europe.
The Golden Boy Award
The Golden Boy award, established by Italian publication Tuttosport in 2003, has been won by a host of football superstars, including Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Wayne Rooney. However, De Ligt stands out as the only defender to have received this prestigious accolade.
De Ligt’s Impressive Performances with Ajax
De Ligt’s impressive performances with Ajax under Ten Hag’s guidance in 2019 were a key factor in the club’s remarkable run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Unfortunately, the Dutch giants were unable to secure a spot in the final, with Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Moura denying them a historic achievement.
Decline in Form and Opportunity to Rediscover
Despite his successful debut season at Juventus, De Ligt’s subsequent campaigns in Italy and Germany were marred by injuries and absences, leading to a decline in his market value. However, at the age of 25, and with the opportunity to work again under his former mentor Ten Hag, there is a strong belief that the Dutch international can rediscover the form that made him one of Europe’s most sought-after young talents.
Reunion of Ten Hag’s Trusted Ajax Stars
The decision to bring De Ligt to Old Trafford highlights Ten Hag’s unwavering faith in the defender, as he has already reunited with several of his former Ajax players, including Lisandro Martínez, Antony, André Onana, and Noussair Mazraoui. This collective reunion of Ten Hag’s trusted Ajax stars has even elicited a cheeky response from the Dutch club, who posted a tweet suggesting that “Manchester is red.”
As De Ligt prepares to showcase his skills in the Premier League, the spotlight will be firmly on him, and his performances will be closely scrutinized. However, with the support of his former boss and the opportunity to rediscover his best form, the stage is set for the Dutch defender to prove his critics wrong and remind the world why he was once considered one of the brightest prospects in European football.
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