Matthijs de Ligt explains he mainly joined Juventus to work with Maurizio Sarri, who ‘only lasted one year’ and did not feel he was suited to the tempo in Serie A.
The Ajax youth product had several options when moving on in 2019 and chose the Bianconeri in a deal worth €85.5m.
Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Gigi Buffon were all present at the time and he was only a teenager.
“When you go to a team with these legends, it becomes difficult for a young guy like me to express yourself. I learned a lot from these guys and tried every day to take as much from these players so I could become a better player,” De Ligt told ESPN.
There were also tactical issues, as the Dutch international assures he is better on the right side of central defence, but was pushed onto the left by Chiellini’s injury.
“It’s a completely different style of defending. At Ajax you press really high, you take risks, at Juventus it’s more about what is behind you.
“In Italy the pace of the League is also a little bit slower. They won four World Cups with this playing style, so I completely understand they feel this is the right way to do it.
“I came to Juventus with the idea of playing more attacking football, because Sarri was the coach and he had a really good name in the world of football, played amazing football with Napoli and Chelsea. I was expecting more of the Ajax style there, but unfortunately after one year he was immediately (sacked).”
Despite winning the Scudetto in his one season, Sarri was dismissed to make way for Andrea Pirlo.
De Ligt pushed for a transfer away this summer and, despite interest from Chelsea and others, he wanted Bayern Munich.
Susy and de penalty still crying about juve
Susy still cant accept He went to juve and not to bibilian or Shinda
So if the tempo was apparently lower and less risks taken, then you’d have thought he wouldn’t make so many mistakes….!
sarri never made juve play his proper style – we were far too slow and still slow under allegri
I figured he joined because he idolized Ronaldo. With CR7 no longer there and Juve regressing it seemed reasonable he would want to leave.
What kind of defender hates defending
he is right!
juve play ugly football and no one want to play there
Credit to the Dutch Phil Jones for breaking free. Now with a much bigger club, maybe he can show that Ajax form. He came for Sarri and in the end got PhD Max, Ronaldo style, run for the hills, hide under the bed, please save me from 1Mbps Calcio Max part deux.
He is complaining he played under Allegri, a coach who has won more Serie A tittles then all the rest of the Serie A coaches put together and won 5 back to back at Juve. People should have more respect
AGAIN…THE IMPORTANCE TO HAVE LEFT FOOTED CENTER BACKS!!!! JUVE DOESN’T HAS ANY YET!!! BUY PAU TORRES AND MATIA VITTI!!!!
I hate players that blame everyone, but themselves. First season under Sari he was was horrible. 2nd season under Pirlo he played ok. 3rd season under Allegri he played the best. So I don’t get his point. He actually looked the best when there was a deeper line and slower tempo. I think he should come out and say that he is not worth the money Juve paid for him. I am sure he will become a very good defender in the future, but right now he does not have any bragging rights. I watched Bremer play in the friendly against Barca and that guy looks like the real deal. At least I hope so.