Title: The Athletic FC Newsletter: Inside De Ligt’s Move to Manchester United and Madrid’s Mega-Squad Masterplan
Inside De Ligt Deal
Matthijs de Ligt’s move from Bayern Munich to Manchester United was an intriguing transfer saga. The Dutch defender’s place at Bayern was under threat, and it became clear that the German club wanted him to leave. Despite a petition signed by over 70,000 Bayern fans asking him to stay, De Ligt decided to explore other options. He sought clarity from new head coach Vincent Kompany, who denied responsibility for the situation. With doubts over De Ligt’s passing ability and his failure to meet expectations, he was on his way out.
How Did United Persuade Him?
De Ligt had a deep admiration for Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United teams and was aware that one of his heroes, Jaap Stam, had previously played for the club. However, the most compelling draw for him was his relationship with Erik ten Hag, who made him Ajax’s youngest-ever captain. Although De Ligt joined Juventus before Bayern, he remained in touch with Ten Hag. This connection gave Manchester United an advantage over other interested clubs like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Another Dutch Player?
Erik ten Hag has a history of signing players he previously coached at Ajax. Along with De Ligt, he has brought in Noussair Mazraoui, Antony, Lisandro Martinez, and Andre Onana. This approach has received criticism for being narrow-minded, but Ten Hag’s suggestion of De Ligt’s name in January and his availability at a discounted price made it a sensible decision for Manchester United. De Ligt’s leadership skills and potential as a younger player aligned with the club’s model.
De Ligt’s Settling In
De Ligt is expected to secure the starting right-sided centre-back role, particularly while Leny Yoro recovers from injury. Despite Harry Maguire partnering with Lisandro Martinez in the opening game of the season, sources close to De Ligt praise Manchester United for their professional and attentive support during his move. The club’s efforts to make Mazraoui feel welcome, such as arranging a tour of local mosques with a community leader, further demonstrate their commitment to their new signings.
Transfer Talk: Premier League’s Lack of Freshness
The Premier League, despite its financial strength, saw minimal turnover in terms of new signings and exits from most-used XIs last season. Each surviving Premier League side only made an average of 0.8 new signings, highlighting the challenge of holding onto existing players. This statistic questions whether the league’s financial power lies in acquiring new talent or retaining their current stars.
Building a Mega Madrid
Real Madrid’s squad under Carlo Ancelotti is a testament to their long-term plan of assembling a megateam. The team boasts incredible attacking talent, including Kylian Mbappe, who joined this season. Ancelotti’s bench also features Endrick, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, and Brahim Diaz, further emphasizing the club’s investment in quality players. Madrid’s strategy of targeting promising youngsters early in their development and capitalizing on market opportunities for reduced prices has allowed them to build a new generation of self-made galacticos.
Conclusion
The 100th edition of The Athletic FC newsletter provides insights into the inside story of De Ligt’s move to Manchester United and Madrid’s strategic plan to build a megateam. It highlights the importance of personal connections, the challenges of player retention in the Premier League, and the success of Madrid’s recruitment strategy. These narratives not only offer exclusive information but also spark discussions on player development, transfer dynamics, and the financial landscape of football.