Football News Update: Matthijs de Ligt Signing Questioned by Experts
In a surprising turn of events, former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood has expressed doubts about Manchester United’s new signing, Matthijs de Ligt. The Netherlands defender, who reunites with manager Erik Ten Hag after their successful stint at Ajax, has been deemed “certainly not better than” Lisandro Martinez by Sherwood.
Manchester United confirmed the signings of De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich on Tuesday. De Ligt, who has won league titles with Ajax, Juventus and Bayern, spoke of his excitement to take on a “new challenge at such an historic club.”
However, Sherwood is not convinced that the 25-year-old is an improvement over Harry Maguire, who will likely be pushed down the pecking order at the center-back position. “If I were a United fan I wouldn’t be jumping up and down with excitement,” Sherwood stated, adding that De Ligt needs to “find a rhythm again” after losing his way at his previous big clubs.
“If I were a United fan I wouldn’t be jumping up and down with excitement.”
- Tim Sherwood
Former Arsenal player Paul Merson echoed Sherwood’s concerns, suggesting that playing for Manchester United comes with less “protection” than representing the dominant Bayern Munich, which could be problematic for De Ligt.
The signing of both De Ligt and Mazraoui bolsters Manchester United’s defense, which was in need of reinforcements. Mazraoui, who also played under Ten Hag at Ajax, has signed a four-year deal with the option of a further year and arrives as full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s departure to West Ham was confirmed.
As the new Premier League season approaches, the performance of Manchester United’s new defensive signings will be closely watched by fans and experts alike. The battle for a starting spot in the Red Devils’ backline is set to intensify, with questions remaining over whether De Ligt can live up to his hefty price tag and prove his doubters wrong.
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