Premier League news: Matthijs de Ligt makes decision about his future
Matthijs De Ligt has announced that he wants to leave Ajax in the summer.
The 18-year-old defender Matthijs de Ligt wants to take the next step in his career, which is understandable because the Eredivisie isn’t the highest standard. De Telegraaf also point out that Mino Raiola has become his agent recently, who will have been significantly involved in this decision.
De Ligt has benefitted from a great footballing education, but there is little more Ajax can offer him. They failed to qualify through the play-offs for the Champions League and Europa League this season as well as finishing second in the league.
His comfort in the Europa League final last season, as a 17-year-old, showed that he is destined for great things. That final was the best achievement in Ajax’s recent history even though they lost 2-0. It was built on a remarkable pool of talent that formed an exciting team under Peter Bosz.
However, some players such as Davinson Sanchez and Davy Klaassen left in the summer afterwards. De Ligt is just part of the next group to move on for better things. Although the chaos behind the scenes at Ajax this season hasn’t helped in the slightest.
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Which club should he join?
Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Tottenham are the main clubs interested in his signature. They would each offer the chance to play at a level significantly higher than the Eredivisie. However, they naturally have their own strengths and weaknesses.
The Catalans play in a style which would get the best out of his all-round skillset. They require defenders who have composure as well as confidence in possession, so he is perfectly suited. He would also get to play with the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, as well as other top players which is sure to help him develop. They also dominate domestically, so he would win silverware with them.
Bayern dominate domestically, but haven’t been able to convert that into European success since 2013. The Bundesliga is the perfect place to develop, though, because of the trust placed in young players as well as the exciting systems utilised by young charismatic coaches.
Manchester City have the best manager in the world, so he would be perfect to work under in order to continue his development. They won two trophies this season as Pep Guardiola’s project starts to build momentum. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them improve on the Champions League quarter-final place.
Tottenham are the least likely to win trophies, but they can offer consistent playing time. Toby Alderweireld is likely to leave in the summer, so a position is opening up. He would also get to work alongside former centre-back partner Sanchez under a coach who is a proven developer of talent.
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City are the best option, though, because they offer the chance to win major trophies as well as significant playing time. Guardiola’s obsession with detail would allow De Ligt to develop tactically just through time on the training pitch alone.