Matthijs de Ligt Didn’t Come From My Head Specifically – Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag has admitted that he wanted to sign Matthijs de Ligt in his first summer as Manchester United manager and indicated that he is a target identified by the club’s hierarchy and not just him.

Manchester United have hit the pause button on their pursuit of De Ligt after agreeing personal terms with the player and convincing him about a move to Old Trafford.

The Premier League giants signed Leny Yoro for a fee of €62m earlier this week and signing another defender would depend on sales.

However, Ten Hag confirmed that De Ligt is still a target for the club and admitted that he wanted him when he first arrived at Manchester United in 2022.

He insisted that he has not specifically targeted the Dutchman as the club’s recruitment team have also endorsed the possibility of signing the Bayern Munich defender.

Ten Hag told ESPN Netherlands: ”We still have to wait and see whether De Ligt will come.

”I know Matthijs well, of course, I’m not going to deny that.

“Two years ago, I already wanted to get him, but he was already very far along with Bayern Munich.

“But believe it or not: he didn’t come specifically from my head in this process.”

Ten Hag made De Ligt the Ajax captain when he was only 19 and admires the defender’s leadership qualities.