Bayern Munich supporters have launched a petition to block the transfer of Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United.
De Ligt is eager to reunite with former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag and has expressed interest in moving to Old Trafford.
United are reportedly ready to offer the 24-year-old defender a five-year contract, valuing the deal at £42 million including add-ons.
Bayern, who need funds to sign Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen as a replacement, are considering the offer.
Their fans have strongly opposed the potential transfer, with over 14,000 signing a petition by Thursday night to prevent De Ligt’s departure.
The petition describes De Ligt as a world-class defender and a key player for Bayern, highlighting his maturity, leadership qualities, and multilingual abilities.
The petition states, “We all want Matthijs de Ligt to stay at FC Bayern Munich! He has proven that he’s a world-class defender, probably the best in our squad.”
“There is a reason why he was elected as our best player in the 2022-23 season. Furthermore, he is only 24 years old and has a bright future ahead, which he will use to fulfill his huge potential.”
De Ligt’s career has been marked by significant achievements. He captained Ajax to an Eredivisie and KNVB Cup double in the 2018-19 season and led them to the Champions League semi-finals.
After joining Juventus in 2019 for £68 million, he moved to Bayern in 2022 and has since made 73 appearances, contributing to a Bundesliga title and a German Super Cup victory.
Despite the fan protest, De Ligt seems keen on the move, which would see him join former Ajax teammates Antony, Donny van de Beek, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, and Andre Onana at United.
United need defensive reinforcements after losing Raphael Varane this summer. With Victor Lindelof’s future also uncertain, De Ligt’s potential arrival could provide stability and quality to United’s backline.
As talks continue, Bayern fans are making their voices heard, hoping to retain a player they view as integral to their team’s future success.
Whether Bayern will heed their fans’ pleas or proceed with the transfer remains to be seen.
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