MATTHIJS DE LIGT was once the Golden Boy – literally.
That is the name of the annual award given to the best male player aged under 21 in a poll run by Italian media outlet Tuttosport.
But since the 2018/19 season in which the Dutchman received the gong and helped Ajax reach the Champions League semi-finals under Erik ten Hag, he has not lived up to that billing.
Now De Ligt and Manchester United hope being reunited with Ten Hag at Old Trafford will put the 25 year old back on track to become the superstar that everyone thought he would be.
The feeling in Holland is that the centre back needs to rediscover the balance between quality on the ball and physical strength that he displayed as yet another Ajax prodigy.
Ten Hag and De Ligt have kept in touch since they parted ways five years ago and now it is down to the United boss to help his former protege fulfil the potential that was identified so early on his career.
For a while, De Ligt carried the burden of expectation really well.
Even before becoming the first defender ever to lift the Golden Boy trophy in December 2018, he had enjoyed other landmark moments.
By scoring on his Ajax debut in September 2016, shortly after his 17th birthday, he became the club’s second youngest goalscorer after Clarence Seedorf.
When he made his senior international debut in March 2017, he was the youngest player to start for Holland since 1931.
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And two months later, he set a new record for the youngest player to appear in a major European final when Ajax lost 2-0 to United in the Europa League showpiece.
De Ligt was the very model of a modern ball-playing centre half.
He was an early developer and his physicality alone would have allowed him to dominate opposition strikers in youth football.
But Ajax don’t let their young players get away with that.
They have to play in a variety of positions and be comfortable receiving and passing the ball in a 4-3-3 formation.
Ten Hag’s team dominated possession, allowing one centre back to step into midfield to create an overload and leaving the other to hold the fort.
De Ligt had many other qualities, too, including leadership.
In March 2018, Ten Hag made him Ajax’s youngest ever captain at the age of 18.
And De Ligt led the club in their remarkable 2018/19 season.
Ajax claimed a domestic double and came within seconds of a place in the Champions League final, only for Lucas Moura’s late late goal for Tottenham to snatch it from them.
De Ligt earned a £67.5m move to Juventus that summer and won Serie A in his first season there, then the Coppa Italia in his second.
But the particular demands of Italian football seemed to be changing him – and not for the better.
In Italy, defenders are still expected to defend first, and play football second.
De Ligt seemed to be relying too much on his 6ft 2in frame and not showing much of his ability on the ball.
Mistakes were also creeping into his game.
While fellow Dutchman Stefan de Vrij was a consistent, calm presence at the heart of the Inter Milan defence, De Ligt was gaining a reputation for throwing himself into challenges.
Some of them resulted in Juventus conceding penalties for handball.
Then at the delayed Euro 2020 tournament, a bad decision cost Holland dear, too.
The last 16 clash with Czechia was 0-0 early in the second half when De Ligt denied Patrik Schick a goalscoring opportunity with a handball and was sent off.
The Czechs went on to win 2-0 and De Ligt admitted it was his fault.
By Lee Scott
One of Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag’s biggest headaches has been fixing their leaky defence.
Despite still not being anywhere near his peak years De Ligt has built considerable experience so far in his career with Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich and he has 45 caps at senior level for the Dutch national team.
While he is not necessarily a highly modern ball playing type of defensive player he is a player with the defensive strengths and instincts to help shore up a United defence that was, at best, leaky last season.
He has a great ability to read the game which was one of the biggest issues that we saw from the United defensive unit last season.
De Ligt is also a master in one-on-one situations, who shows strength and intensity in his duels.
The Dutch star does a good job in keeping things simple and tends to make good decisions in possession.
The pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt makes perfect sense for United and for Ten Hag as a young defender who is still to reach his peak.
He has considerable experience at a high level and he understands the game model and system of play of the manager.
Click here to read our full analysis on De Ligt joining Manchester United.
But De Ligt’s overall form in Italy was good enough to convince Bayern Munich to spend an initial £59.5m on him in the summer of 2022.
Again, his first season at his new club ended with a league title, despite Julian Nagelsmann’s shock sacking.
In the second campaign, however, a knee injury disrupted his rhythm and he at times found himself as Thomas Tuchel’s third-choice centre back behind Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-Jae.
Bayern’s failure to win the Bundesliga for the first time in 12 years left the club in flux.
There are conflicting accounts about how keen new boss Vincent Kompany was to keep De Ligt.
Whatever the truth, it became clear that the club was open to offers for the Dutchman to raise money for reshaping other areas of the squad.
Ajax: 117 games, 13 goals, 7 assists
Honours: Eredivisie 2019, KNVB Cup 2019, Europa League runner-up 2017
Juventus: 117 games, 8 goals, 3 assists
Honours: Serie A 2020, Coppa Italia 2021, Supercoppa Italia 2020
Bayern Munich: 73 games, 5 goals, 2 assists
Honours: Bundesliga 2023, DFL-Supercup 2022
Netherlands National Team: 45 caps, 2 goals
Honours: Uefa Nations League runner-up 2019,
Individual awards:
Many Bayern fans were furious, with more than 70,000 signing a petition demanding that the Dutchman should not be sold, but to no avail.
The initial payment of £38.5m agreed with United for De Ligt means that has now commanded fees totalling more than £150m at the age of just 25.
Yet there remains a feeling that he has not had the career to match.
De Ligt did not play a single minute at Euro 2024.
Ronald Koeman’s favoured centre backs were Virgil Van Dijk and De Vrij, and Micky van de Ven his first choice substitute.
De Ligt admitted being left on the bench had led to him consulting a psychologist.
Now it is down to Ten Hag to get him right in body and mind to rediscover in full the form of his early years.
Ten Hag’s recruitment from Ajax so far does not inspire a great deal of confidence.
DEBUTANT Joshua Zirkzee was the hero for Manchester United in an evening where their new guns showed what they are all about.
The Dutchman had to remain patient for his opportunity but he took it brilliantly once he came on the pitch.
Zirkzee came on for Mason Mount on the hour mark and had been quiet up until his pivotal moment.
Ten Hag will take positives from the display and it was his astute sub which led to the winner as his side got their season off to a flyer.
Here is how SunSport’s Phil Thomas rated the Red Devils display…
Andre Onana – 6
Made an outstanding early tip over from Kenny Tete and was rarely seriously troubled beyond that.
Noussair Mazraoui – 7
A pretty impressive debut from the Moroccan. Looks assured on the ball, gets forward in support and can put a foot in.
Harry Maguire – 7
Dominant and commanding in defence, but embarrassingly booked for diving at the other end. Really Harry, even you?
Lisandro Martinez – 6
Skinned by Adama Traore early. Showed all his defensive guile in how he handled him after that, and got back superbly to deny a breakaway goal.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Had his hands full dealing with Traore’s pace, but knocked in a couple of wicked curling crosses at the other end.
Casemiro – 7
Headed over then shot over, but two great passes put Fernandes clean through. Often looked United’s most likely source of a goal.
Kobbie Mainoo – 8
So crisp, so tidy, so rarely wastes a pass. Another near-flawless, if not exactly flair-packed, display from the youngster. Fizzed a shot just wide, too.
Mason Mount – 5
So desperate to do well, which earned him an early booking. Only Leno’s legs denied him the goal his effort deserved.
Amad Diallo – 5
Made one marvellous mazy run into the box, although the tumble to ground that followed wasn’t so impressive.
Marcus Rashford – 6
Still nowhere near the star of two years ago, but another step in the right direction at least. Some way to get yet, though.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Fluffed two great chances, driving at keeper Leno’s legs twice when Casemiro put him through, but sprayed passes around and started the move for the winner.
Subs
Alejandro Garnacho (for Diallo, 60mins) – 6
Put a spark in United when he came off the bench and teed up the winner.
Joshua Zirkzee (for Mount, 60 mins) – 7
The debut he dreamed of. Barely had a touch, but then fed the ball wide and stuck out his left foot to jab the winner.
Matthijs de Ligt – (for Mazraoui, 81 mins) – 5
Was only on for the last ten minutes and looked solid although he did not have too much to do
Jonny Evans (for Maguire, 81 mins) – 5
Scott McTominay (for Mainoo, 84 mins) – 5
Antony is yet to come close to living up to his £85.5m fee.
Doubts linger over £43.8m goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Lisandro Martinez, whom Ten Hag signed for Ajax after De Ligt’s departure, is the best buy so far despite injury issues.
The plan seems to be for De Ligt’s cultured approach to defending to complement Martinez’s more no-nonsense philosophy, with the injured Leny Yoro as their long-term competition.
De Ligt has a good support network from a family of high achievers.
Dad Frank is a leading pharmacist, while father-in-law Keje Molenaar was a defender for Ajax, Feyenoord and Holland before becoming a successful lawyer.
De Ligt’s personality – he has a reputation for being intelligent, good-natured and honest – should be a hit with team-mates and fans.
But it is on the pitch where Ten Hag really needs De Ligt to show his quality.
United’s traditions, like those of Ajax, demand winning, but winning with style.
The Golden Boy of six years ago would be the perfect fit.
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