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Matthijs de Ligt agent reveals what role Cristiano Ronaldo played in Juventus transfer
MATTHIJS DE LIGT finally signed a five-year contract with Juventus today, five weeks after Cristiano Ronaldo urged the defender to join him in Turin.
Ronaldo helping to get de Ligt to Juventus claims pundit
De Ligt had multiple clubs knocking at the door this summer, including Manchester United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
The 19-year-old settled on The Old Lady, however, who stumped up £67.5million for his services.
De Ligt led Ajax to the Dutch league last season and was Virgil van Dijk’s partner in the centre of defence as Holland made the Nations League final.
After a 1-0 loss to Portugal, winning captain Ronaldo consoled De Ligt after the game and surprisingly asked him to join Juventus.
De Ligt did not digest Ronaldo’s words until later, such was his disappointment at losing the final.
Some people have pointed towards the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward as a swinging factor in the young Dutchman’s decision, however.
De Ligt’s agent Mino Raiola has disputed those claims, though, playing down Ronaldo’s role.
"If Cristiano told De Ligt to go to Juve, you would have to ask him,” he said.
“The choice to come was something thoughtful - not a one-day talk. It was a process.”
Raiola has secured his client a hefty pay package in Italy, where he will take home over £200,000 a week.
A swathe of other contract intricacies had to be thrashed out, which delayed the transfer, but they have now been agreed between player and club.
One of those stipulations is a buy-out clause which comes into effect in 2022, when De Ligt can be purchased for £135m.
Juventus: Matthijs de Ligt ‘clearly’ wants to sign says pundit
Having played down Ronaldo’s influence in the move, Raiola went on to explain why the Bianconeri are the right club for De Ligt.
“It is not a question of wanting more, but it is the team that is most suitable for him,” he said.
“For a defender to come to Italy it is important, he can learn to become the number one in the world, and this step is necessary for his career.
“It takes little to prove himself to be the number one even on another level.”