Matthijs de Ligt a ‘good fit’ for Man Utd, according to Jaap Stam
Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt would be a ‘good fit’ for Manchester United, according to Jaap Stam.
De Ligt was instrumental in the Amsterdam club winning the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup double this season, as well as reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
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- Man Utd are set for a summer overhaul under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
- At 19, De Ligt would fit Solskjaer’s profile perfectly, with the Norwegian looking to add youth to his squad.
- But they would face stiff competition from the likes of Barcelona, Manchester City and Liverpool for his signature.
- De Ligt captained the Ajax side that won the double in Holland this season, also reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
- Ex-United defender Stam believes his compatriot would be a ‘good fit’ at Old Trafford.
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His form throughout the campaign, as well as during the Uefa Nations League with the Netherlands, has seen the 19-year-old heavily linked with a number of European giants, including Barcelona, Manchester City and Liverpool.
But Stam, who won the treble with Man Utd in 1999 under Sir Alex Ferguson, believes the centre-back would slot right in at Old Trafford.
“I think he would fit very well over here (at Manchester United) if they’re trying to pick him up and I am not sure if that’s the truth, of course, because a lot of things have been said and have been written as well,” Stam told reporters.
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“But he is a player that absolutely fits in here, but it is up to him as well. He’s the type of player that a manager I think wants to work with.”
De Ligt has all the tools to succeed, says Stam
De Ligt’s rise to prominence, alongside a number of his Ajax teammates, has caught the eye of fans around Europe, as well as many potential suitors.
Captaining a double-winning side in the Netherlands is a fine achievement for a 19-year-old but De Ligt will have his sights set on bigger targets in the years to come.
And Stam believes the youngster has all the tools to succeed at the highest level, admitting he is already ‘playing like an adult’.
“He’s a great player. He’s only a youngster as everybody knows,” Stam added.
“But in how he plays, he’s an adult, to be honest.
“He’s got composure on the ball, he’s aggressive tactically, he sees the game, he reads the game well and he’s got that driving force for himself as well in what you need to achieve and where you want to go to.
“I think that’s one of the most important thing for a player to have – to have goals for yourself, that you want to make steps, that you want to improve yourself, that you want to go the highest level.”
