If De Ligt were to join Manchester United, he would likely take over as the central defensive partner for Lisandro Martinez. His strength in aerial combat complements Martinez’s tenacity, making them a formidable team at the back. Despite being slightly shorter than current partner Raphael Varane, De Ligt won 2.46 aerial duels per 90 minutes in the 2023-24 season, compared to Varane’s 1.68 (as per FBref.com). On the other hand, Martinez has only won 1.11 aerial duels per 90 minutes since joining United.
In addition to his aerial prowess, De Ligt is also comfortable with the ball at his feet. He boasted an impressive 93.1% pass accuracy last season, which was higher than any player at Old Trafford and even surpassed the Bayern Munich squad’s average of 87%. Martinez was close behind with a pass accuracy of 92.7%, but no other United defender managed more than a 90% pass accuracy last season. This suggests that De Ligt could significantly improve United’s ability to play out from the back and distribute the ball effectively throughout the game.
As someone who captained Ajax at just 19 years old, De Ligt has already demonstrated leadership qualities on and off the field. He would be a natural fit in the heart of Manchester United’s defense, providing stability and guidance to an under-pressured backline last season. With his impressive passing accuracy, strong leadership skills, and aerial abilities, De Ligt could be exactly what Manchester United needs to shore up their defense and improve their overall performance on the pitch.
Overall, signing De Ligt would provide Manchester United with a much-needed boost in their defensive capabilities while also improving their ability to play out from the back and distribute the ball effectively throughout games.