'Not the only reason' - Matthijs de Ligt busts Man United transfer theory
manchestereveningnews.co.ukManchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has dismissed suggestions that he only signed for the Reds because of his previous working relationship with Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag helped De Ligt develop during his time at Ajax before eventually having to sell the Dutchman to Juventus in 2019. The centre-back lasted three years in Italy before making the switch to Bayern Munich.
While things started off well in Bavaria, De Ligt's importance to the team seemed to wane under Thomas Tuchel's tenure. When Vincent Kompany arrived, the die was already cast in terms of the 25-year-old's future and a move to United was the best option on the table. READ MORE: De Ligt's X-rated interview after Netherlands errors READ MORE: United ace backed despite errors Since arriving at Old Trafford, Ten Hag has been criticised for targeting players who he has previously worked with and knew from his time in the Netherlands.
While De Ligt also fits into that bracket, the centre-back was quick to stress that he was not only at United to enjoy a reunion with his former head coach. "Erik ten Hag was not the only reason I joined Manchester United," De Ligt explained to Vandaag Inside. "We are talking about Manchester United here, one of the biggest clubs in the world. "There is a lot of pressure because the fans are used to things from the past. [Now it is] up to us!" De Ligt has looked a solid addition to the United backline in the fleeting evidence we have seen of him so far.
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