TalkSPORT presenter Alan Brazil has named the Manchester United player he thinks has gone downhill.
United have spent a lot of money over the years, but not many players have been a huge success.
One of the players that United fans expected a lot from is Matthijs de Ligt, but the defender has flattered to deceive so far.
De Ligt was a star at Ajax and won the Eredivisie title with the Dutch giants in 2018-19. He also helped them reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League that season and the final of the UEFA Europa League in 2016-17.
Juventus signed the Netherlands international defender from Ajax in 2019 and sold him to Bayern Munich in 2022.
In the summer of 2024, Bayern decided to offload De Ligt. United, who are now interested in Tyler Dibling, signed the 25-year-old for an initial transfer fee of £38.6 million (Sky Sports).
Former United forward and talkSPORT presenter Alan Brazil has not been impressed with De Ligt at all.
Alan Brazil and Gabriel Agbonlahor discuss Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt
While discussing the defender on talkSPORT (6:41am, December 12, 2024) with former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, Brazil said that De Ligt is no longer the second coming of Jaap Stam he was expected to be when he was at Ajax.
Agbonlahor said: “De Ligt is not good enough either. He has come in. There is a reason why Bayern Munich didn’t want him. There’s a reason why Juventus didn’t want him. I think some of the signings haven’t been good enough.”
Brazil noted: “You thought maybe he was the type of player when he was in Holland, you thought he is another Stam. He has gone downhill for me.”
Matthijs de Ligt could still come good
Just because De Ligt has had a few bad months at United does not mean that the Old Trafford faithful should write him off.
Andre Onana did not make a spectacular start to his United career either, but he is now a big player for the Red Devils.
Under new head coach Ruben Amorim, De Ligt is likely to get better and get his confidence back.
The defender has made 12 starts and three substitute appearances in the Premier League for the Red Devils this season. He has scored one goal in those games.
De Ligt has also made three appearances in the UEFA Europa League and has made one start and one substitute appearance in the League Cup this campaign.
