According to a recent report by Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid are considering making an offer for Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt this summer. The same source has claimed that the Dutch defender is being considered as an option for Los Blancos as they look to bolster their defensive options by bringing in a long-term replacement for Sergio Ramos in this off-season.
De Ligt’s Lacklustre Debut Season At The Allianz Stadium
Since sealing a move to Turin from Ajax last summer, de Ligt has struggled to perform at a high level after flattering to deceive with his performances at the centre of Maurizio Sarri’s backline. He has made 27 appearances for the Italian giants this term and has got two goals to his name on all fronts which includes a winner against Torino back in February.
More importantly, de Ligt has averaged 1.0 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 3.6 clearances in every 90 minutes of league football this season (stats via whoscored). He has a slightly better record in Europe after averaging 1.2 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 3.8 clearances per game in the UEFA Champions League before the competition got postponed as a result of the recent COVID-19 pandemic (stats via whoscored).
The 20-year-old has already earned 21 senior caps for the Netherlands national team and has registered two goals for his country thus far. He will once again be expected to play a crucial role alongside Virgil Van Dijk in the UEFA European Championship which is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2021.
What Will The Dutch Youngster Bring To The Spanish Capital?
De Ligt is a moderately-paced centre-back who has a good football IQ than allows him to read the danger quicker than most others around him. He can position himself ideally to make some vital last-ditch clearances for his side and doesn’t mind putting his body on the line to block a goal-bound attempt from the opposition. However, the Dutch defender has struggled to find consistency with his performances in Italian football which will be a cause for concern for Zinedine Zidane heading into the summer transfer window.
Is de Ligt The Right Choice For Zidane?
Even though de Ligt has endured an underwhelming campaign in the Serie A so far, yet there is no doubt that he is a talented centre-half who has the potential to become a generational talent in European football. Hence, the Juventus whizkid would be a decent addition to Zidane’s squad in the long-run as he has all the attributes to be a grand success story at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
De Ligt could potentially form a fierce defensive partnership with Raphael Varane which Madrid can benefit from for years to come. He will also serve as an ideal long-term replacement for the ageing Sergio Ramos who is in the last legs of his football career. A defender of de Ligt’s ceiling will undeniably help the La Liga giants compete for some major silverware over the next few years.
