Former Ajax, Real Madrid, and Tottenham Hotspur star Rafael van der Vaart has suggested that Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has not been the same since leaving Ajax.
De Ligt moved to United from Bayern Munich in the summer for a reported fee of £38.6m plus £4.3m in add-ons.
Although he initially started on the bench for United’s first two Premier League matches against Fulham and Liverpool, De Ligt got his first start in a 3-0 loss to Liverpool.
Despite the defeat, he put in a decent performance and was one of the few United players who performed well.
However, De Ligt had a rough international break, making high-profile errors in matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany.
His error-filled game against Germany led to his substitution at halftime, with Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman acknowledging that he made the change to protect him.
Former Netherlands international Van der Vaart expressed his concerns about De Ligt’s current form in an interview with Metro, stating that De Ligt is going through a “tough phase” in his career.
Van der Vaart added, “I’m a big fan of his qualities but I have to be honest. Since leaving Ajax, he hasn’t been the same.”
“I think his career has hit a roadblock. I watched him yesterday [in the Netherlands vs. Germany game] and he made more mistakes. When you’re out of form, every mistake leads to a goal. Every error creates an opportunity.”
“I believe in his quality, and I hope that under ten Hag, he can regain his confidence because ultimately, it’s all about confidence. He’s still young, playing for a big club. He made a mistake in the national team but bounced back from it. Normally, it’s not a problem. But he has been struggling for a while now. However, in terms of quality, he is still a great defender.”
Van der Vaart warned De Ligt about the competition for his place in the United team from Harry Maguire, who has shown his worth recently.
“I think Maguire could replace him in the lineup. As a new player, you expect him to start, but performance is key. If De Ligt continues like this, Maguire will take his spot back. I must say, Maguire has been impressive lately. I believe De Ligt will feel the pressure.”
“Maguire still has an important role to play. I criticized his quality in the past because he was considered an expensive signing for an average player. He had some poor games and made mistakes, but mentally, he has shown strength. He always comes back strong. The staff at United value him, so I think he will have his opportunities.”
Van der Vaart also mentioned that Joshua Zirkzee, who United signed from Bologna in the summer, has the potential to become a regular at Old Trafford.
He highlighted that Zirkzee could offer something different to the team when Rasmus Hojlund is struggling.
Play for free to win the new United kit! We’re awarding a new prize every PL matchweek, courtesy of Goat Kits! To play, just (1) Join this week’s brand new PL Challenge league here with our league code puu1tk and enter your team. (2) Follow The Peoples Person on X and answer the tie breaker question. Full instructions and rules here.
You can also visit Goat Kits at goatkitstore.com and use discount code TPP30 to get 30% off your first purchase!
