Micah Richards doesn’t share Paul Scholes’ concerns about Matthijs de Ligt as the Dutch international closes in on his move to Manchester United.
De Ligt is set for a reunion with Erik ten Hag, the man who handed him the captain’s armband at Ajax. It will see him continue a nomadic career since leaving Amsterdam, with his former Ajax colleague Noussair Mazraoui also poised to trade Bayern Munich for Old Trafford this summer.
The incoming duo will help replace Raphael Varane and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, both of whom have moved on. Varane joined Como following the expiry of his United contract, while Wan-Bissaka has completed a £15m switch to West Ham.
United have already signed Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro, though the latter will miss the start of the season through injury. That could open the door for De Ligt to earn starts early in the campaign, but questions remain – even if Richards is convinced.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards suggested De Ligt could allow United to solve one of United’s more consistent issues from last season. “When we talk about Man United and the way they play, the structure of the team, sometimes they sit really deep because they’ve not got the pace,”he said
“If you get De Ligt in the team… I wouldn’t say he’s rapid but he’s not as slow as someone like Maguire on the turn and that’s no disrespect to Maguire. So I think they can afford to be a bit more adventurous”
Summer signing Yoro appears to be an upgrade in the pace department, but is out of commission after picking up an injury in pre-season. United started with a centre-back pairing of Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans in the Community Shield, with Lisandro Martinez forced to start at left-back while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia work their way back to match-fitness.
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