Bayern Munich sold Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United against Vincent Kompany’s wishes this summer, according to reports. United signed the 25-year-old in a £43million deal earlier this month after suggestions that Kompany had indicated that he wouldn’t be near the top of his centre-back pecking order.
De Ligt’s potential exit received significant push-back from Bayern supporters, with over 70,000 signing a petition to urge the club to keep him.
But he was happy to reunite with former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, arriving in a £60m double deal involving defensive teammate Noussair Mazraoui.
If Kompany had been given his own way, though, De Ligt would likely still be playing at the Allianz Arena.
According to The Athletic, Kompany wanted to retain the Netherlands international’s services in his first season after replacing Thomas Tuchel in the dugout.
It’s claimed that the former Anderlecht and Burnley boss went as far as informing De Ligt that he was his ‘number one defender’.
But the decision to cash in two years after his £68m arrival from Juventus is said to have stemmed from club executives.
The report adds that De Ligt’s camp believed the Bayern board were ‘playing a game’ during discussions about his future at the Bundesliga giants and had already decided to pursue a sale.
There were reportedly reservations about his flaws while playing out from the back with his weaker foot.
However, when the opportunity to sign him arose, Ten Hag pushed for a deal after making him Ajax’s youngest-ever captain aged 18.
The Dutchman is said to have been desperate for further centre-back reinforcements after the £59m capture of Lille’s Leny Yoro.
And many of his signings as United boss have been players who he has previously worked with or who possess experience playing in the Dutch Eredivisie.
After completing his switch, De Ligt admitted that he had been waiting to leave Bayern for Old Trafford for an extended period.
“I actually really like the project. It’s always nice to go somewhere and to feel that you’re part of a new project, to feel that you’re part of something new,” he explained.
“Hopefully me, but also the other players that are coming now this summer, can give a great piece to the next history of Manchester United and to get the club back where it belongs: on top.
“Besides that, it’s an amazing club, one of the biggest clubs in the world, with an amazing history, a lot of amazing players, amazing defenders.
“I’m really excited. I actually waited a long time! The whole vacation I was waiting for the message, that it was a done deal, and now finally it is. So I can’t wait to start.”
De Ligt appeared off the bench in last Friday’s 1-0 win against Fulham and could make his first start in this weekend’s trip to Brighton and Hove Albion.
