Rio Ferdinand have given his verdict on two transfer targets who look set to join Manchester United.
According to The Athletic, Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt. Noussair Mazraoui is set to follow De Ligt from Bavaria to Manchester in a separate deal which is expected to materialise once Aaron Wan-Bissaka signs for West Ham.
This gives Erik ten Hag’s squad a boost in the defensive department after losing new signing Leny Yoro for months due to a serious foot injury that required surgery.
Yoro has been ruled out for at least three months after suffering a broken metatarsal in a pre-season friendly against Arsenal. This forced United’s hand in finalising a deal to acquire Netherlands international De Ligt, who like Mazraoui, played under Ten Hag at Ajax.
Ferdinand has raised concerns about De Ligt’s spells at Juventus and Bayern that left him disappointed, and he feels being a success at Old Trafford will be a ‘big ask’ which is it for any player joining the biggest club in the world…
Reflecting on De Ligt and Mazraoui’s likely arrivals, Ferdinand said (via Rio Reacts podcast): “Mazraoui will play right-back because Wan-Bissaka will be sold. I think that’s a good deal all round. I still think [Diogo] Dalot plays ahead of him.
“But with De Ligt… I watched him at Ajax; he was brilliant that year when they got to the semi-final with Ten Hag before being beaten by Spurs. He was commanding, everything you wanted in a defender, composed.
“Then he goes to Juventus, you look at that and think, great move. A defender going to learn from the likes of [Leonardo] Bonucci and [Giorgio] Chiellini and all them guys. But it just fills me with disappointment with the way his career has gone since then.
“I think he had 16 starts last season. Lot of injuries, doesn’t start many games in the las two or three years, and Manchester United are spending 45-50 million pounds on him. That’s another two teams who he was a sub for, a backup defender.
“I think it’s a big ask for him. Big pressure. Big opportunity, but there is a lot of uncertainty over him after his time with Juventus and Bayern Munich.
“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.
“Ten Hag knows him, the character, the person, and I hope he does a good job but I am going to reserve judgement on this one.
“If Yoro and Martinez are both fit they both start No one else gets a look in. but Yoro is now out for three months. Is de Ligt fit right now to play? Eric Dier was starting in front of him and he was surplus to requirements at Spurs. That tells you a lot. This isn’t a signing that makes me go ‘wow’. Hopefully ten Hag gets the best out of him.”
Scholes questions De Ligt transfer
Ferdinand isn’t the only former United player to question De Ligt ahead of his summer transfer.
Paul Scholes made his feelings known on United’s transfer pursuit and it doesn’t sound like he is excited by the prospect of watching De Ligt in a red shirt next season.
Speaking to The Overlap, the former United midfielder opened up about his true feelings about the De Ligt saga.
“Manchester United are talking about bringing players in who can’t get in their (current) team,” Scholes explained. “From Bayern Munich, he has not played for them. That has to be a big concern for me, especially when Eric Dier is playing in front of him. I’m not joking, that is a massive concern for me.”
Scholes also complained about De Ligt’s price tag, adding: “When you’re bringing players in for £40-£50million just because he played for him three or four years ago. Juventus got rid of him, he wasn’t good enough for Juventus. He’s obviously not been good enough at Bayern Munich, so he’s coming to us as like a second-rate defender now.”
I always feel that when former players speak out like this, it only mounts pressure on the players joining the club. It can often be counterproductive, especially when they’ve yet to kick a ball in a United shirt.
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