August 11th 2024.
Manchester United's potential signing of Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt has been met with some skepticism from former players, with Rio Ferdinand being the latest to voice his doubts. The club has already spent over £100 million on defensive reinforcements this summer, including the acquisition of French star Leny Yoro who unfortunately suffered a broken metatarsal in only his second appearance for the team.
While Yoro's signing was widely praised, de Ligt's potential arrival has raised concerns among some, including Paul Scholes who described the Netherlands international as "second-rate." Ferdinand shares similar fears, citing de Ligt's underwhelming performances at Juventus and Bayern Munich as cause for disappointment and questioning whether he will be able to handle the pressure at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand also expressed doubts about de Ligt's fitness and readiness to play, pointing out that he only started 16 games last season and has had a history of injuries. He also noted that de Ligt was a backup defender at both Juventus and Bayern, which raises questions about his abilities as a starter for Manchester United. However, Ferdinand also acknowledged that de Ligt will have the opportunity to prove himself and potentially revive his career under the guidance of manager ten Hag, who knows him well from their time at Ajax.
Despite his reservations, Ferdinand believes that if Yoro and fellow new signing Martinez are both fit, they should be the first-choice center-back pairing for Manchester United. However, with Yoro now facing a three-month injury layoff, de Ligt may have a chance to prove himself and show that he is capable of playing at the highest level. Ferdinand hopes that ten Hag's familiarity with de Ligt's character and abilities will help him succeed at Old Trafford, but he remains cautious and will reserve judgement until he sees how de Ligt performs.
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