Ajax manager Erik ten Hag says the race to sign
De Ligt will leave Ajax at the end of the season according to his coach, who believes it is impossible to keep hold of his highly-rated 19-year-old beyond the summer.
Dutchman De Ligt has helped his team to a memorable campaign so far, with the Eredivisie side having knocked out Real Madrid en route to the Champions League quarter-finals and made it to the league summit on goal difference.
Barcelona have already agreed a deal to sign De Ligt’s team-mate Frenkie de Jong, who will move to the Camp Nou this summer – and Ajax boss Ten Hag says the Catalans are firmly in the mix to sign the young stopper too.
“There is zero chance that De Ligt will continue at Ajax,” he told German outlet Süddeutscheaid.
Erik ten Hag on Matthijs de Ligt's future: "The chances of Matthijs de Ligt staying at Ajax is 0%. But I don't know if he will leave to Bayern or Barca." pic.twitter.com/IZX0sxgrwQ
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“There are too many clubs interested in him. He will leave us this summer, but I don’t know if he will go to Bayern or Barcelona.
“Our team plays with courage and creativity, partly because De Ligt is our captain. He has a lot of courage.
“Most of the Dutch players play with the ball at their feet, but he loves the art of defending. That’s something new here.”