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Matthijs de Ligt has revealed what motivated his move from Manchester United to Bayern Munich, in his first sit-down with club media.
Earlier this week, United officially unveiled De Ligt, who put pen to paper on a contract running until 2029.
Before his transfer got over the line, United had been chasing the Netherlands international for weeks, with seemingly little success.
At one point, it seemed like the deal was in danger of collapsing but fortunately, everything worked out at the end. De Ligt told United’s in-house media that he was very eager to reunite with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford and he was convinced to make the move by the club’s ambitious sporting project and illustrious history.
De Ligt said, “I actually really like the project. It’s always nice to go somewhere and to feel that you’re part of a new project, to feel that you’re part of something new.”
“Hopefully me, but also the other players that are coming now this summer, can give a great piece to the next history of Manchester United and to get the club back where it belongs: on top. Besides that, it’s an amazing club, one of the biggest clubs in the world, with an amazing history, a lot of amazing players, amazing defenders…”
“I’m really excited. I actually waited a long time! The whole vacation I was waiting for the message, that it was a done deal, and now finally it is. So I can’t wait to start.”
He added, “There’s a lot of history in this club. I grew up with the team of Cristiano Ronaldo, Vidic, Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes… Edwin van der Sar, the Dutchman. There’s so much history in this club. I’m speaking about 20 years ago but, like, even more [further back] when they won the Champions League [in 1999], the Treble… it’s such a big historic club. You can feel this already, it’s in the air here… you can breathe the history.”
“It’s an amazing challenge to have now this possibility in England, for one of the biggest clubs in the world, in the biggest competition in the world. I’m driven by these new challenges; I like to get challenged.”
“To get this opportunity and to play for this club at this level, to help win them trophies, it’s amazing. Hopefully I can have a part in the next history of Manchester United.”
The 25-year-old was not the only player United brought in from Bayern in the past few days. The Red Devils also confirmed the signing of Noussair Mazraoui – a player De Ligt also played with at Ajax.
De Ligt explained that there is a reason he and Mazraoui always move together as a pair. He branded their relationship as “special” and expressed his hope that their effective partnership, built over the years, will ultimately benefit United.
“What can I tell you about Nous? He is an amazing guy, an amazing player.”
“I think it is a special relationship and I’m really happy and glad that he’s also going to be here, and I think we can help each other a lot.”
During his presser ahead of United’s opening Premier League fixture against Fulham on Friday, Ten Hag confirmed that De Ligt and Mazraoui will both be in the matchday squad.
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