Rumours linking Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United have continued to heat up (Image: Getty Images)
Matthijs de Ligt has dropped a major hint about his future, expressing his desire to be part of an attacking setup and to play for a club that truly values him amidst speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United. The Dutch defender is reportedly on the radar of the Old Trafford outfit, with a potential reunion with his ex-Ajax boss in the offing this summer.
De Ligt, who looks set to depart Bayern Munich after only two years since his switch from Juventus, has disclosed what lured him to Germany following his signing back in 2022, comments that resonate with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's current ambitions, reports the Mirror.
In a candid chat with ESPN after his transfer to Bayern, De Ligt highlighted the significance of a club's management demonstrating a strong desire for a player and his preference for a team's playing style.
"First of all that the club wants you is obviously a big thing, I think the board really showed me that they wanted me to become a player of Bayern Munich that also says a lot for me because it's really important," he remarked last year. He further elaborated on his fit with the club, saying: "I think the club suits me really well, I think it's offensive football, hard training [and] high intensity, I think that's something that I really search [for] in a club and that's perfectly in my world."
Should he seal the deal with Manchester United, De Ligt will no doubt be buoyed by Erik Ten Hag's renewed commitment to the Red Devils, having extended his tenure at Old Trafford until 2026 following his FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City back in May.
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The 24-year-old has yet to feature for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 (Image: Getty)
The Dutch manager, who was previously on a shorter leash with just one year remaining, has openly acknowledged the mountain of "hard work" that lies ahead for United to reclaim their glory in both domestic and European competitions. "We must also be clear that there is still lots of hard work ahead to reach the levels expected of Manchester United, which means challenging for English and European titles."
"In my discussions with the club, we have found complete unity in our vision for reaching those goals, and we are all strongly committed to making that journey together."
De Ligt, meanwhile, could be snapped up by United for a bargain £40million, significantly less than the £56million Bayern Munich paid for him.
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Despite the heavy interest from United in what's bound to be a busy summer for the defender, it's been a low-key Euros for him thus far, having failed to make an appearance for the Netherlands with national team boss Ronald Koeman preferring a centre-back partnership of Virgil van Dijk and Stefan de Vrij instead.
Ahead of their quarter-final clash against Turkey on Saturday (July 6), De Ligt has been spotted training on his own after minor complaints. De Ligt could come up against potential future team-mates at United in Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw in the semi-final if the Netherlands and England win their games.
