Matthijs de Ligt / signs for Juventus, lowering their average age to 56

[Cee90]

I still don’t see him going to PSG, regardless of what these ‘Tier 1’ sources may say.

Obviously I may be wrong, but I just can’t see it happening. That’s not to say Raiola won’t be negotiating with PSG though.

 

[golden_blunder]

Definitely. PSV are indeed a step down from Ajax.

Typo

 

[golden_blunder]

He’s coming to United. Keep the faith

 

[Lash]

Got him at 10/1, the milkybars are on me, when he comes.

 

[mayonnaise]

I'm worried we'll struggle to obtain centre backs we actually want, since clubs know were in desperate in that area particularly. I bet it will be the last signing.

 

[Morpheus 7]

Realistic more likely.

Do you honestly believe we have a chance in signing him with PSG and Barca in it?

PSG play in a shit league, crap standard and joke club. Barca fair enough, we could offer a good pay package and development as the main man at the back. United aren't in a good place at the minute but still a huge club, shouldn't dismiss us.

 

[JPRouve]

PSG play in a shit league, crap standard and joke club. Barca fair enough, we could offer a good pay package and development as the main man at the back. United aren't in a good place at the minute but still a huge club, shouldn't dismiss us.

Nice.

 

[M Bison]

Why on earth would anyone sign for PSG, its an absolute tin-pot league and such a silly move from him if he does end up there.

 

[Enigma_87]

PSG play in a shit league, crap standard and joke club. Barca fair enough, we could offer a good pay package and development as the main man at the back. United aren't in a good place at the minute but still a huge club, shouldn't dismiss us.

PSG and Barca cover everything he might go for though.

PSG most likely can offer even bigger salary than us. Free pass at silverware and generally excellent city to live in.

Barca shit all over us for footballing reasons.

CL is really straining us. I mean Sancho rejected us who is also English, can't realistically see any reason why De Ligt (who is also more sought for) would choose us.

 

[Rooney24]

What is this Tier1 Tier 2 nonsense that has appeared this season??

Sooner we get a glossary of terms for the Caf the better

 

[Godfather]

All that bitterness towards PSG... Most arguments would go for Bayern as well. Joke league, shit standard, why would anyone go there. Truth is you are guaranteed trophies there, earn a lot of money and have a good shot at winning the CL in the next couple of years.

Why would anyone join United is the real question. Inexperienced manager with nothing to show for, no chance of winning the league in the next couple of seasons, no CL next year and God knows when again... History alone sadly isn't enough

 

[VP89]

All that bitterness towards PSG... Most arguments would go for Bayern as well. Joke league, shit standard, why would anyone go there. Truth is you are guaranteed trophies there, earn a lot of money and have a good shot at winning the CL in the next couple of years.

Why would anyone join United is the real question. Inexperienced manager with nothing to show for, no chance of winning the league in the next couple of seasons, no CL next year and God knows when again... History alone sadly isn't enough

The quality of football in the French league is the bizzare point. It's comfortably one of the worst. Especially if you're playing for PSG, as a centre back you may as well have a picnic at the back all season.

He made it clear one of his big priorities is to develop. He won't develop as a player much at PSG compared to if he went to Barca Juve United even Bayern as in your example.

 

[Morpheus 7]

Nice.

Yeah I thought so too, founded 1970 lad.

 

[Godfather]

The quality of football in the French league is the bizzare point. It's comfortably one of the worst. Especially if you're playing for PSG, as a centre back you may as well have a picnic at the back all season.

He made it clear one of his big priorities is to develop. He won't develop as a player much at PSG compared to if he went to Barca Juve United even Bayern as in your example.

He'll have a good manager and one of the best CBs out there to learn from. He'll develop fine enough. When was the last time anyone developed brilliantly with us?

 

[Enigma_87]

The quality of football in the French league is the bizzare point. It's comfortably one of the worst. Especially if you're playing for PSG, as a centre back you may as well have a picnic at the back all season.

He made it clear one of his big priorities is to develop. He won't develop as a player much at PSG compared to if he went to Barca Juve United even Bayern as in your example.

Why do people keep saying that? French league isn't as bad as Holland, come on.

He will get 100% playing time there, play alongside some of the best players in the world. He will be up against Mbappe, Neymar, Di Maria, Cavani, Draxler in training. Play alongside Marquinhos, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva. Got a very good, experienced manager in Tuchel who also has good record with youngsters. Has a realistic shot at CL as well.

Compare this at how he will develop at United - no footballing structure. Play alongside Jones, Smalling, Young in defence. Rookie manager with no record developing top players. No chance at CL, no chance at title bid.

Some people need a reality check.

 

[VP89]

He'll have a good manager and one of the best CBs out there to learn from. He'll develop fine enough. When was the last time anyone developed brilliantly with us?

No he won't, because he will play in a league where the quality is very comfortably below La Liga and Premier League. Training means little if you can't get practical experience week in week out.

As for your bold point, we haven't really bought young players with great potential bar Martial and Dalot. Shaw too, and he was developing fine pre leg break. Martials issues are down to him more than anything else. The fact still remains that De Ligt would improve his game far more in our league or La Liga. That's not really debatable either.

 

[gr3yham3]

Exactly. As a young player, you wont have the required intensity in 90% of the matches to actually improve and take your football to the next level. And PSG always make it hell for players who want to leave.

 

[JPRouve]

Yeah I thought so too, founded 1970 lad.

Not really, it was renamed in 1970, it used to be the Stade Saint-Germanois but that's irrelevant.

 

[JPRouve]

Exactly. As a young player, you wont have the required intensity in 90% of the matches to actually improve and take your football to the next level. And PSG always make it hell for players who want to leave.

So all these french and Ligue 1 based players that are bought every year by big clubs didn't have the opportunity to actually improve? The PL is filled with former Ligue 1 players that learned and developed their trade in that shit league.

 

[Kapardin]

He'll have a good manager and one of the best CBs out there to learn from. He'll develop fine enough. When was the last time anyone developed brilliantly with us?

The phrase, "can't polish a turd" comes to mind actually.

 

[VP89]

Why do people keep saying that? French league isn't as bad as Holland, come on.

He will get 100% playing time there, play alongside some of the best players in the world. He will be up against Mbappe, Neymar, Di Maria, Cavani, Draxler in training. Play alongside Marquinhos, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva. Got a very good, experienced manager in Tuchel who also has good record with youngsters. Has a realistic shot at CL as well.

Compare this at how he will develop at United - no footballing structure. Play alongside Jones, Smalling, Young in defence. Rookie manager with no record developing top players. No chance at CL, no chance at title bid.

Some people need a reality check.

Operating in a league better than the Dutch league isn't a barometer of development when you aim to be the best in the world. That's fact. If he wants to develop he wouldn't go to the French league, it's blatantly Raiola and $ driven. As you said he will be along side such world class players that the gulf in talent between his side and the rest of the cack league is even larger. So he's probably ultimately going to sit back and chill out for 75 mins a game.

At United he'd have been part of a restructure. He'd have been more likely playing alongside Wan Bissaka and Lindelof, and very much thrown in the deep end at a much, much better league. I'm not saying we are a better side than PSG. I'm saying the French league is absolute poo if he wants to develop. Players go there to earn lots of cash or ultimately be forgotten. He's going in the former bucket, just like Mbappe and Neymar did.

Barcelona would have been sensible for him because he'd still get healthy competition to stay on his feet, it's a strong league where even teams below can push you and he's able to compete for every trophy. The only reason he's at PSG is raiola pushing him in that direction. It's very obvious. For what it's worth if he came to United over Barca it would also be for the same reasons, but at least we can say he'd develop as a player in our league and not be forgotten about by the rest of the world until a Champions League games kick off.

 

[gr3yham3]

So all these french and Ligue 1 based players that are bought every year by big clubs didn't have the opportunity to actually improve? The PL is filled with former Ligue 1 players that learned and developed their trade in that shit league.

Most of these players were not playing for PSG . Playing for a team like Lyon or Lille means every match is much tougher. Playing for PSG means almost every game is a stroll. Is there any other top league where the season is decided so early? Who is the last PSG young player that improved their game there and was bought by other big clubs?

 

[RobinLFC]

Most of these players were not playing for PSG . Playing for a team like Lyon or Lille means every match is much tougher. Playing for PSG means almost every game is a stroll. Is there any other top league where the season is decided so early? Who is the last PSG young player that improved their game there and was bought by other big clubs?

Verratti, Mbappe, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Aréola, ... were all young when they got into the first XI and mightily improved. They would improve almost any side in the Premier League - the fact that they didn't go to another club yet doesn't change the fact that they improved in France.

 

[RobinLFC]

So all these french and Ligue 1 based players that are bought every year by big clubs didn't have the opportunity to actually improve? The PL is filled with former Ligue 1 players that learned and developed their trade in that shit league.

The shitting in Ligue 1 is in full force since he's been linked with PSG, I see. As if United has such a great track record of developing young players recently

 

[Ventura]

Can't believe he'll go to PSG after all his "sensible talk", to be a part of an oil-greased propaganda machine for evil tyrants who try to cheat their way to the top. And the level of the opposition won't be great for his development. I think he has a better head on his shoulders than that.

 

[Enigma_87]

Operating in a league better than the Dutch league isn't a barometer of development when you aim to be the best in the world. That's fact. If he wants to develop he wouldn't go to the French league, it's blatantly Raiola and $ driven. As you said he will be along side such world class players that the gulf in talent between his side and the rest of the cack league is even larger. So he's probably ultimately going to sit back and chill out for 75 mins a game.

You forget he's 19 and a CB. He isn't reliant on pace and PSG style is much more common to him than ours. If he comes to United he has to adjust to our style(whatever it is or if we have one) and pretty much different culture than France. If your argument revolves around PSG being so far ahead of the pack then what will be the difference to going to Barca? He will be rotated there, they are way ahead than anyone else bar Real and Atletico and will still chill for 75 mins a game.

United at the moment isn't a barometer. We don't have a blueprint of how we will play and there is no stability in the development cycle for a young CB. We played a whole different bunch of formations and if our players gas out like they did after the first 2 months he'll find himself in a less suited approach to his game.

At United he'd have been part of a restructure. He'd have been more likely playing alongside Wan Bissaka and Lindelof, and very much thrown in the deep end at a much, much better league. I'm not saying we are a better side than PSG. I'm saying the French league is absolute poo if he wants to develop. Players go there to earn lots of cash or ultimately be forgotten. He's going in the former bucket, just like Mbappe and Neymar did.

I struggle to find the "appeal" of being part of a restructure. We have been restructuring since 6 years and getting managers with polar styles leading to nowhere and ending up in worse position since restructuring. Mbappe and Neymar are hardly forgotten mate. The latter had an injury that took him out for half of the season.

French league is hardly shit. Many good players are currently playing in La Liga or EPL that developed in the French league.

Barcelona would have been sensible for him because he'd still get healthy competition to stay on his feet, it's a strong league where even teams below can push you and he's able to compete for every trophy. The only reason he's at PSG is raiola pushing him in that direction. It's very obvious. For what it's worth if he came to United over Barca it would also be for the same reasons, but at least we can say he'd develop as a player in our league and not be forgotten about by the rest of the world until a Champions League games kick off.

We haven't developed a player since ages. Rashford is not really breaking strides since he broke through, Martial has gone backwards. Who is the last 19 years talent that we developed?

 

[Godfather]

The phrase, "can't polish a turd" comes to mind actually.

That's a fair point. Players like Depay should have done better though I felt. Who knows what managers like Klopp could have done with him.

 

[VP89]

Verratti, Mbappe, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Aréola, ... were all young when they got into the first XI and mightily improved. They would improve almost any side in the Premier League - the fact that they didn't go to another club yet doesn't change the fact that they improved in France.

Mbappe has only played in France, and at PSG is operating in a side that dominates lions share of possession in the oppositions final third. Of course he'd rack up more goals and assists there. I think the player at Monaco was individually just as unplayable as the one that we see at PSG.

Marquinhos sure. But I only see him properly when he's tested on the Champions League, where he and PSG tend to choke. Veratti also wanted out of PSG. Neymar wants out of PSG. If im not mistaken didn't Neymar reportedly claim to be disillusioned by the quality of the league himself?

This has nothing to do with Man Utd as a club over PSG because I accept PSG will win things. Its more that the league won't develop him as much as La Liga or the Premier League would.

 

[RobinLFC]

This has nothing to do with Man Utd as a club over PSG because I accept PSG will win things. Its more that the league won't develop him as much as La Liga or the Premier League would.

It just amazes me that some people (not saying you) take offence at his choice. Players don't think like fans, they generally don't care about "a challenge" or "being the guy that brings United back to its former glory", unless they have some special connection with a club. Why should they? They want to win trophies and rake in money, both of which can be achieved at PSG. It might be a red flag indeed that players want out of PSG but struggle to do so, but if he simply runs down his contract he can choose to do whatever he wants when he's 23 or 24 years old, which is still incredibly young for a CB.

Ole, De Bruyne, Aguero were all Liverpool fans growing up. I think Terry was a United fan, Carragher an Everton one, Bale an Arsenal one, ... It's just a business for them, and of course we as fans can judge them for their choices, but it doesn't tell you anything about his personality imo.

 

[crossy1686]

Realistic more likely.

Do you honestly believe we have a chance in signing him with PSG and Barca in it?

Yep! But then again I believe our club and the PL means something in the grand scheme of things. The French, and to an extent the Spanish league are a joke. His best place for development right now is England, he only has to look at Van Dyke to realise that.

 

[JPRouve]

Most of these players were not playing for PSG . Playing for a team like Lyon or Lille means every match is much tougher. Playing for PSG means almost every game is a stroll. Is there any other top league where the season is decided so early? Who is the last PSG young player that improved their game there and was bought by other big clubs?

The season is generally decided at the same time than other leagues, at the exception of the 2015/2016 season and 2018/2019 seasons and even then the same things have happened in England, Italy and Germany in the last 5 seasons. And all young PSG players have improved, they are not bought by big clubs because PSG aren't selling.

 

[Enigma_87]

Most of these players were not playing for PSG . Playing for a team like Lyon or Lille means every match is much tougher. Playing for PSG means almost every game is a stroll. Is there any other top league where the season is decided so early? Who is the last PSG young player that improved their game there and was bought by other big clubs?

Lo Celso has been doing pretty good at PSG last year before loaned to Betis. Now he's subject to 50-60m+ transfer.

Kimpembe will walk in our defence. Meunier hasn't done too bad has he? Verratti is one of the top CM's in the world. Rabiot who we want to sign and improve us has developed at PSG. Kehrer isn't doing too bad either and German international after being transferred last year. Marquinhos is excellent CB.

Who has United developed over the last years?

 

[RobinLFC]

Yep! But then again I believe our club and the PL means something in the grand scheme of things. The French, and to an extent the Spanish league are a joke. His best place for development right now is England, he only has to look at Van Dyke to realise that.

Van Dijk came into the Premier League when he was 24 years old.

 

[crossy1686]

Van Dijk came into the Premier League when he was 24 years old.

And look at him now!

 

[RobinLFC]

Most of these players were not playing for PSG . Playing for a team like Lyon or Lille means every match is much tougher. Playing for PSG means almost every game is a stroll. Is there any other top league where the season is decided so early? Who is the last PSG young player that improved their game there and was bought by other big clubs?

The Premier League last season was decided by New Year, and the one Chelsea won under Conte was sealed by March as well. So yes, it frequently happens.

 

[Lash]

Mbappe has only played in France, and at PSG is operating in a side that dominates lions share of possession in the oppositions final third. Of course he'd rack up more goals and assists there. I think the player at Monaco was individually just as unplayable as the one that we see at PSG.

Marquinhos sure. But I only see him properly when he's tested on the Champions League, where he and PSG tend to choke. Veratti also wanted out of PSG. Neymar wants out of PSG. If im not mistaken didn't Neymar reportedly claim to be disillusioned by the quality of the league himself?

This has nothing to do with Man Utd as a club over PSG because I accept PSG will win things. Its more that the league won't develop him as much as La Liga or the Premier League would.

Not really true, considering he's coming from the Dutch league. He won't have a massive jump and get to play with some great players and learn from players like Thiago Silva. He'll also get to go pretty far in the CL and they were extremely unlucky to go out this year to us.

Weird also, as a shit tonne of players are bought from Ligue 1 and play extremely well in the top leagues. Not to mention, it's not like anyone was clamouring over Pepe before this season. I'm not sure how you think he won't develop there. He's bloody 19.

 

[since 1977]

The Premier League last season was decided by New Year, and the one Chelsea won under Conte was sealed by March as well. So yes, it frequently happens.

Oh yeah. Liverpool crowned themselves champions at new year, I’d forgotten that

 

[R'hllor]

People mentioning us and development in the same sentence as argument vs PSG, you cant be for real. Player improvement, oh yea thats our thing alright, our best achievement is that improvement and value of a player dont go to far backwards. About doing a Coutihno or similar examples. not even worth talking about it.

 

[AjaxNL]

I don't have any inside sources ofcourse, but being a BIG fan of the player and person that is Matthijs de Ligt, I cannot for the life of me see him joining PSG. I just don't see it. He is such a level headed guy and the only thing he wants is to develop as a player and win some serious silverware. I don't think he cares about earning 250k or 350k a week, as both are ridiculous amounts of money. At PSG the only real price would be the CL, as winning the French league with this team is nothing of an achievement. He's also very close to Koeman and I'm pretty sure Koeman won't have advised him to go to PSG over the last two weeks they spent together.

Now whether United has a serious chance at him is another matter. Personally I would love it. He would improve you guys greatly and I would love the narrative of an Ajax youngster helping the fallen giant find its feet again. In the end I think he will be tempted by Juventus/City/Barca though, with the latter still being the most likely destination imo.

 

[Enigma_87]

Not really true, considering he's coming from the Dutch league. He won't have a massive jump and get to play with some great players and learn from players like Thiago Silva. He'll also get to go pretty far in the CL and they were extremely unlucky to go out this year to us.

Weird also, as a shit tonne of players are bought from Ligue 1 and play extremely well in the top leagues. Not to mention, it's not like anyone was clamouring over Pepe before this season. I'm not sure how you think he won't develop there. He's bloody 19.

It's mind boggling. PSG first team average age is lot less than ours. They have constantly improved teenagers over the last years and often give a chance to youngsters. We play Ashley Young out of form instead of giving chance to youth product.

Moussa Diaby played 33 games last year and is 19 and raved about as the next big thing. We don't start Gomes, Garner and Laird in a dead rubber against Cardiff at home..