Former Man Utd player advises Matthijs de Ligt against move to Red Devils in the summer transfer window despite struggling for form at Juventus.
Matthijs de Ligt rejected a move to Barcelona last season in favour of one to Juventus last summer. However, he has struggled to replicate his form from Ajax at Italy. This has seen the young Dutchman reduced to just 15 league starts this campaign.
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The centre-back has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer. However, a former Red Devil has advised De Ligt not to switch clubs and instead, stay at Juventus and fight for his place in the side.
Former Man Utd player advises Matthijs de Ligt against move to Red Devils
Former Manchester United centre-back, Jaap Stam, who spent three seasons at Manchester United, during which time United won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Champions League, has warned his compatriot to remain in Italy and learn to live with the pressure.
“I think it’s fundamental that De Ligt stays at Juve for many years, because it’s the only way to improve, by dealing with the best, learning to live with pressure in important Champions League and Serie A games’ he told TuttoJuve.com per Mirror.
“He was criticised a little but had to understand how to adapt to a different style of football. He’s still young and Matthijs is at a big club with far more pressure than he was accustomed to.
“The standard of opponent he is facing in Italy is also far higher than in the Netherlands.
“Juventus invested a large sum to sign him, some way would say too much, but in my view, he has done well so far.
“The experience has made him believe in himself more. He just needs to learn Italian so he can communicate with his teammates.”
Stam believes that De Ligt can improve by playing alongside veteran defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, adding:
“They are top level defenders, real winners accustomed to the biggest games.
“They are the best centre-backs in Italy and they can teach him so much on the art of defending.”
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