Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand doubts the club’s interest in Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, stating that the player may struggle to make an impact at Old Trafford.
Recent reports from England indicate that Manchester United have agreed on a deal to sign De Ligt from Bayern Munich.
The deal is believed to be worth up to €50 million, according to Sky Sports.
While De Ligt’s impressive resume—highlighted by his time at Ajax and Juventus—appears to justify the hefty price tag, Ferdinand has cautioned that the move may not work out as the Red Devils hope.
Speaking on his podcast, Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former Manchester United center-back reflected on De Ligt’s earlier success.
“I watched him at Ajax; he was brilliant that year when they got to the semi-final before being beaten by Spurs.
He was commanding, everything you wanted in a defender, composed,” Ferdinand said.
Ferdinand acknowledged De Ligt’s promising start at Ajax but noted that his career has not progressed as expected following his move to Juventus.
“Then he goes to Juventus, you look at that and think, great move. A defender going to learn from the likes of Bonucci and Chiellini. But it just disappoints me a little the way his career has gone since then,” he added.
Ferdinand pointed out that injuries and inconsistent playing time have hampered De Ligt’s development over the past few years, raising questions about Manchester United’s decision to invest heavily in the 24-year-old.
“Lot of injuries, doesn’t start many games in the last few years, and Manchester United are spending 45-50 million pounds on him,” Ferdinand commented.
Despite his reservations, Ferdinand acknowledged that the move presents an opportunity for De Ligt to prove himself.
“I don’t think he’s the answer. But it’s a great opportunity for him to go in there and be like, ‘you know what guys, I’m going to rectify my last few seasons and show you the real me.”