Agent Mino Raiola warns Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt ‘is ready for a new step and he thinks that too,’ amid Chelsea and Manchester City links.
The representative had a long interview with Dutch side NRC and there was a passing comment during the profile that was buried in amongst the focus on Raiola’s larger career and top clients.
“Raiola lets it be known that Matthijs de Ligt, Juventus defender, is ‘ready for a new step’ and ‘he thinks that too,’” wrote the reporter.
It is a worry for Juve, especially as there have already been reports of strong interest for next summer from Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester City.
Barcelona had originally done battle with the Bianconeri to get De Ligt from Ajax for €85.5m in 2019, but now the financial powerhouses able to afford the 22-year-old defender are few and far between.
Juventus too are struggling with financial problems and could be tempted to sacrifice the Netherlands international, but only if they can make a profit on his sale.
Matthijs de Ligt future. @NRC reporting this sentence by his agent Mino Raiola during the interview “said by letting it fall between nose and lips” about the Dutch centre back 🇳🇱⤵️
“Matthijs de Ligt is now ready for a new step – he thinks that too”. #Juventus pic.twitter.com/N1MfRClm7D
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 19, 2021
Ground yourself agent and ligt. Man was unwatchable last year and still at times shakier than a pretzel stick. I’d be a little more humble of where you are and realize the growth you still have to do
No surprise there. I knew it right from when he signed the contract. Not here for the long run, whoever secures his services runs the risk of losing him again in 3-4 years… typical Raiola client. I won’t be missing you, de Ligt. Bye.
I have nothing to do with Juventus, but this agent is ruining your defender now. Why you keep allowing that parasite to do so?
Raiola the biggest parasite 🦠 in all of football
Football is never like this, I remember during star players like KAKA, SHEVY, ZIDANE, BAGGIO, MALDINI. I can go on and on, you can never heard stuff like this, how could this be happening, inciting club against clubs and players against the club that pays their salaries, just because he wanna earn some commision, this is just crazy.
Juventus need to stop working with this parasite!
He has a €150m clause after two years, so if juve get anything near that, jobs a gud un.
…and had they kept demirel and Romero, that would have been a free defence for the next decade, plus u get rid of his €10m annual salary
As much as I don’t want to see him out, it seems inevitable… having Raiola as a manager doesn’t help too. Juve bought him on a 10 m/y contract which they cannot sustain (for a CB) even without the COVID situation. So, if we don’t want to lose him for a lot less in 2023, or for nothing in 2024, it seems like there is not much of a choice. The best thing to do imo, is to let him go for 80-90 mil (which would generate 50-60 mil. plusvalenza and much needed fresh money for transfers) and in return Raiola convinces some of his free agents to sign for Juve (Pogba, Romagnoli, Gravenberch…) and use the money to strengthen elsewhere (Vlahovic maybe). It could prove to be a ‘Zidane’ move (like in 2001: Zidane out; Buffon, Nedved, Thuram in)
Raiola looking for his last big payday before they cap his commission!! I can see a lot of his clients making moves this year!! Greed is an ugly companion!!
Ready for what? When Chiellini is not injured, de Ligt is benched. The kid is good, but a 37-year old is preferred to him. He still needs to grow. Typical raiola, he’s about to burst cause he’s got fat from the money he commissions. When will UEFA deal with those football realtors?
Selling him for 150 mil would be okay. Chiellini is gonna play for another 5 years at least. And De Winter looks like a good option for the future. Plus we can get Bastoni from Inter for free when the go bankrupt in a few months.
Selling De Ligt makes perfect sense when his value is still high. Premier League sides will over pay and it could be a good way to replenish the squad. Think of when Zidane was sold and Juventus brought in 3 gems. Sadly this management does not have the foresight to pull off such moves. In any case it is best if De Ligt leaves. Has he developed in the last 3 years with the chopping and changing of coaches. I would say no. A change of scenery could revitalise him as he came at the wrong time and place.
@zambrotta, I think you should change the drugs you are taking. firstly, do you think chellinini still has 5 years in his legs? you must be taking some hard drugs from southern America. secondly, you think Bastoni will want to come to club like Juventus who prefer to bench deligt for a 37year old chellinini? come on, you must be living in the cave for you to think that way.
@inter big fan Juve is Juve. Yes nowadays they cant brag about how they dominated Serie A for almost a decade not so long ago. Yes. But Bastoni wont join them? Uh… Why? Because hes young? I mean ten years ago Bonucci was also a young football player, right? Chiellini is not that old too in 2010 when he started to play regularly as CB.
Its not about age, really. Its about how can you convince the manager with your game. So, if DeLigt still have to fight for his place against old guards like Bonucci and Chiellini… I dont know.
And dont forget youre an Inter fan. You follow Serie A. You must be aware, your fav club used to still playing overage defender too; like Zanetti, Cordoba, Bergomi. I mean Milan still put Maldini and Baresi on the pitch in their 40… maybe its an Italian thing.
If we Juve can get 120-130 mill. that would be fantastic business on the 75 mill. paid. The kid is good, but still has a bit to learn.
IMO De Ligt has not lived up to the hype. Maybe the expectations were too high, or maybe he just needs more time develop. Either way, if a player says he wants to leave your club there is no reason to keep him, regardless of his potential. That said, I wouldn’t believe a word that comes out of Raiola’s mouth.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s a very good player for his age, but is he a phenomenon though? I’ve definitely seen stronger defenders in my life time and if we were to get close to the £150M I’d say sell for sure and use that money to build up the squad to be competitive once more.
@juvefan
Continua a sognare.
Inter are too big to go bankrupt.
And juve are a step down for Bastoni. He can play in England or Spain.
@juvefan Zambrotta, funny how you have that nick of a player who dumped juve to barca when they were relegated in 2006