After Cole and Yorke, Rashford and Malacia, Manchester United may be about to witness another footballing bromance.
It’s enough to make you wonder if fate exists. Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui reunited again, arriving as a pair from Bayern Munich to continue the relationship they sparked up a decade ago in the Ajax academy.
Manchester United announced the signing of both on Tuesday evening. De Ligt joins for an upfront fee of £38 million while Mazraoui signs on for an initial sum in the £13 milliob region.
But there is certainly more than mere coincidence behind the fact that the two defenders are together once more. Obviously, Man United feel that they work together pretty well in a backline. And lord knows Erik ten Hag likes bringing in with players he knows and trusts.
De Ligt and Mazraoui were part of that thrilling Ajax side which came within touching distance of the Champions League final in 2019.
Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Sofyan Amrabat and Andre Onana also worked under Ten Hag in the Netherlands, while he also came up against Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia and Wout Weghorst in Eredivisie action from the opposition dugout.
Manchester United sign Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui
De Ligt, meanwhile, not only reunites with Mazraoui at Old Trafford.
Man United’s new number four has played alongside Malacia and £35 million acquisition Joshua Zirkzee for the Dutch national team. He was also tasked with protecting Onana’s goal at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
The fact that four former team-mates are already at Carrington should, you would think, ease De Ligt’s adaption into a new league and a new country.
“It’s always nice when you know certain players, certain guys,” De Ligt tells Manchester United’s official website. “It makes it a little bit more easy, so I am really glad that these guys are already here.”
As for Mazraoui, his bargain price-tag makes the Morocco international potentially one of the summer’s best bargains. Man United are not exactly renowned for snapping up first-team players on the cheap.
But, as former Old Trafford stalwart Jaap Stam tells ESPN, this is a footballer who is ‘incredibly good on the ball‘.
Two-footed, versatile enough to play on the right or the left, and an upgrade on the departed Aaron Wan-Bissaka when it comes to contributing in a possession-based build-up structure.
Debuts aplenty in Friday’s Fulham clash
“He is an amazing guy. An amazing player,” De Ligt smiles as Mazraoui watches on from the corner of the interview room with a cheeky smirk on his face.
“I have known him already for a very long time. I think around ten years.
“It’s so funny, we spoke about it last week! There is a reason we always come together, like before at Ajax and then at Bayern Munich. And, now, Manchester United.
“It’s such a special relationship. I’m really glad that he’s also going to be here. I think we are going to help each other a lot.
Both players may be in line to make their Manchester United debuts in Friday’s Premier League opener with Fulham. De Ligt and Mazraoui arrived at Old Trafford at the start of the week in order to be registered in time.
There may also be a first appearance in that famous red shirt for Zirkzee against Marco Silva’s Cottagers.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/BCxb4zA