Matthijs de Ligt left Bayern Munich at the end of the 2023/24 season to join Manchester United, a move that has received mixed reactions from the Old Trafford faithful. Former Dutch coach Ruud Kroll, however, believes that the defender has regressed since leaving Serie A.
De Ligt has played nine games for United so far, and while he initially looked solid, weaknesses in his game were exposed — particularly during the Red Devils’ humiliating 3-0 loss to Tottenham.
Struggling to cope with Spurs’ high press, de Ligt appeared uncomfortable with the ball at his feet, drawing heavy criticism from both fans and pundits.
Kroll joined in, stating (as per Fabrizio Romano),
“De Ligt thought he would improve after leaving Juventus, but in reality, he’s gotten much worse. He was incredible under [Massimiliano] Allegri.”
Kroll praised de Ligt’s ‘positioning and marking’ under Allegri, one of Juventus’ most successful managers. But in 2022, seeking a fresh challenge, de Ligt moved to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Last year, he was part of the squad that lost the league title to Bayer Leverkusen, ending Bayern’s 11-year reign. His time in Germany was largely underwhelming.
🚨❗️🗣️ Ruud Kroll, Dutch coach: ” De Ligt thought he would improve once he left Juventus, but in reality he got much worse. He was incredible under Allegri’. He was perfect on the pitch, in his positioning in marking, he was one of the strongest players in Italy”.
— Juventus News Live (@juvenewslive) October 11, 2024
In 2024, Manchester United, desperate for a defender, signed de Ligt. However, the move has yet to pay off for either the player or his former Ajax boss, Erik ten Hag, who is also under pressure to keep his job.
There are even rumors that de Ligt could reunite with Allegri at Old Trafford.
Manchester United is in disarray, sitting 14th in the standings with just two wins, two draws, and three defeats. What’s most concerning is their lack of firepower, having scored only five goals — the second lowest in the Premier League this season.
Erik ten Hag is under immense pressure, with rumors circulating that he was on the verge of being sacked before the ongoing international break, following United’s disappointing draw with Aston Villa last weekend.
While the Dutch manager has survived for now, reports suggest that Manchester United has potential replacements lined up should Ten Hag fail to turn the season around. One of the names reportedly on the list is Massimiliano Allegri, a favorite of club legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
Given that Ruud Kroll believes de Ligt was at his best under Allegri during their time at Juventus, there’s speculation that the 25-year-old defender could rediscover his top form under the Italian manager — this time, in the Premier League.
