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Some things are just that way and when Matthijs de Ligt signed for Manchester United there was a cosmic exhalation as the universe settled down and normality resumed.
United have been in the hunt for the big Dutchman since his surprise breakthrough at Ajax, for whom he first wore the captain’s armband at the age of 18 before leading them to the league title the following year.
Instead, De Ligt moved first to Juventus for €75 million and then to Bayern Munich for a similar fee, before finally turning up at Old Trafford in 2024, seven years after making his first waves in the Netherlands and setting in motion his inevitable move to United.
Two sides of the same coin
The arrival of the great centre-back was less a football transfer than an exercise in storytelling. Was this a case of De Ligt, a former boy wonder who has now proven himself at the highest level in two of Europe’s biggest leagues and is ready for his latest big step?
Or was it De Ligt, once a promising youngster who two of the world’s biggest teams wanted rid of, while United made a run for a player who was clearly not good enough for the big stage?
Been bought and sold for almost €200 million for a relatively short career it was a valid consideration. But there was a grim predictability in the speed at which the story veered towards negativity, with Paul Scholes branding the player ‘second rate’ during United’s search for his signature.
Has earned his stripes
De Ligt remained an easy target during his first season at the club: an Erik ten Hag nepo baby unable to cope with the rigors of the Premier League, a lesser Harry Maguire. But like the Englishman he was brought in to succeed with, his toys stayed in his pram.
With his head bowed and sweat on his brow, the Dutchman showed the iron determination with which he captained Ajax to its first national title in five years, when he was the same age as Ayden Heaven is now.
It may not mean much in the grand scheme of his career, but being named United’s Player of the Month for November is a testament to De Ligt’s grit, determination and class in ignoring the media fuss and standing up for the club.
Key player
And in doing so, he has proven himself to be a true United player. Is that any wonder, considering he has over 300 appearances for Ajax, Juventus and Bayern? The player’s vast amount of experience is a historical fact, but he would hardly have played so many senior games at the age of 24 if it wasn’t for something about him.
To be fair, it took a while for that to fully come into its own at Old Trafford, but he has generally been imperious this season and is now getting the credit he deserves.
The Dutchman was an ever-present in United’s back three until an injury ruled him out of the last two games. He hasn’t even been the victim of Ruben Amorim’s obsessive in-game tinkering with his backline.
Bright future
United’s defense is arguably less solid without De Ligt at its heart, and he is already being talked about as a future captain.
In a season of baffling mediocrity, it’s easy to grasp the tiniest glimmer of positivity, but it’s impossible to argue with the quality the 26-year-old is showing both on and off the pitch.
United’s squad is full of players operating with claustrophobically low ceilings, but De Ligt has shown what he can do and, more importantly, what he is capable of. Suddenly the Dutchman has taken control of his own story and made certain commentators feel very stupid.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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