Netherlands legend does not fancy de Ligt joining Manchester United

Netherlands legend Ruud Gullit does not see Matthijs de Ligt making the move to Manchester United during this summer’s transfer window. The Ajax captain has been widely fancied to secure a big-club move this summer and he has been linked with the likes of United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Speaking at the Costa Smeralda Invitational, Gullit acknowledged that the Red Devils face a tough task of signing the young defender, given they have failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, he said: “I don’t think Man United, they don’t play [in the] Champions League. I think he wants to play Champions League. So, that’s unfortunate for Man United. It’s going to be difficult, a lot of them maybe have a Uefa ban, so there’s a lot that’s going on still. So I hope he makes the right decision for himself.”

De Ligt has remained quiet regarding the speculation over his future but there appears a clear idea that he would be parting ways with Ajax this summer. Barcelona have been touted as the prime candidates to land him over the past year but the same does not seem a guarantee anymore, considering the Blaugrana are reluctant to reward him with a bumper wage package.

Based on this, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have been afforded with an equal chance of pursuing the Dutch footballer, but the latter could have the edge with the assurance of Champions League football next season.
Les Parisiens have failed to make progress beyond the round of 16 stage of the Champions League despite the big spending over the past 24 months and they appear keen to shore up the defence further to give them a better chance of competing for the European crown. Thomas Tuchel’s team only won the Ligue 1 title last season.