August 13th 2024.
On Tuesday, Manchester United made a big announcement that not only excited their fans, but also caught the attention of their former club, Ajax. The Red Devils confirmed the signing of two talented players, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, strengthening their ties with the Dutch club even further.
While the defensive duo was signed from Bayern Munich in a hefty £60m deal, they both have a history with Ajax. Under the guidance of United's current manager, Erik ten Hag, they played for the Dutch giants and impressed him enough to join his new team. Since taking over United in 2022, Ten Hag has been keen on bringing in players he has worked with before, resulting in the signings of Lisandro Martinez, Antony, and Andre Onana, all former Ajax players.
With the addition of De Ligt and Mazraoui, Ten Hag's tally of former Ajax players at United has now reached five, and Ajax couldn't help but acknowledge this fact. They took to their social media account to playfully point out that "Manchester is red" with a winking emoji, showing their support for their former coach and players.
The new signings are expected to make an immediate impact in the team, with a chance to feature in the upcoming game against Fulham on Friday. However, it's not just their connection to Ajax that is noteworthy, as there is also a significant link between United and Bayern Munich. One of their other summer signings, Joshua Zirkzee, may have recently joined from Bologna, but he previously played alongside De Ligt and Mazraoui at Bayern. In fact, he even shared a photo of the three together after winning the 2022 DFL Super Cup against RB Leipzig, captioned with "Run it back."
Aside from De Ligt and Mazraoui, United have also made two other major signings this summer, with Leny Yoro arriving from Lille and Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna. However, Yoro suffered an injury during pre-season and will be out for around three months. Furthermore, Luke Shaw will also be absent for the first three games of the season due to a calf injury, potentially giving De Ligt and Mazraoui a chance to make their debut in the Premier League.
As the excitement and anticipation builds for the new season, fans can stay up-to-date with all the latest news, exclusives, and analysis from Manchester United by signing up for the club's newsletter. With a strong squad and a manager who knows how to bring out the best in his former players, United are ready to take on the challenges ahead and make their mark in the Premier League.
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