“He was the only player I wanted to sign this season because He has everything in football. I am a big fan of him and he is the only Manchester United player I rated very high”- Pep Guardiola Break silence as he reveals his best Manchester United star his attempted to sign at Man City but failed
Pep Guardiola, the renowned manager of Manchester City, has been revealed to be an admirer of a particular Manchester United player, one he previously sought to bring to his own team. This revelation comes as Manchester United continues to strengthen Erik ten Hag’s squad with hopes of eventually competing with City for the Premier League crown.
One of United’s significant acquisitions this summer is Matthijs de Ligt, the 25-year-old Dutch defender who joined the Red Devils earlier this month. De Ligt made his debut for United in their recent match against Fulham. The club secured his services from Bayern Munich for an initial fee of £38.6 million, with an additional £4.2 million potentially added through performance-based bonuses.
De Ligt’s addition to the team provides United with crucial depth and quality in their defensive line, especially following the departure of Raphaël Varane from Old Trafford earlier in the summer. De Ligt, who was once regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young defenders, particularly during his time under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, had numerous top clubs vying for his signature in 2019.
A report by *The Athletic* reveals that Manchester City was among those interested in signing De Ligt back in 2019. Guardiola was particularly eager to bring the talented defender to City. However, negotiations were complicated by the presence of De Ligt’s agent at the time, the late Mino Raiola. Raiola had a difficult relationship with Guardiola, which ultimately became a major stumbling block, preventing the transfer and leading De Ligt to join Juventus instead.
Now, a few years later, De Ligt has arrived in Manchester, but on the red side of the city, joining Manchester United. He has spoken warmly of Erik ten Hag, the manager who played a significant role in his early development at Ajax.
“Erik ten Hag was instrumental in shaping the early stages of my career. He knows how to bring out the best in me, and I am excited to work with him again,” De Ligt shared with the club’s media.
This reunion between De Ligt and Ten Hag at United is expected to strengthen the team’s defense, as the club aims to rise to the top of English football, challenging the dominance of Manchester City under Guardiola’s leadership.
