Barcelona would have to fend off more suitors for their primary target next summer as the Netherlands star keeps attracting interests and winning accolades all over Europe. Juventus, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have all been linked with the Ajax defender.
Coveted Ajax captain and sensation Matthijs de Ligt has been crowned the 2018 Golden Boy as the most promising Under-21 player in Europe. Linked with LaLiga champions Barcelona and Premier League titleholders Manchester City among others, the 19-year-old centre-back claimed the Tuttosport award after receiving the most votes from an international panel.
De Ligt beat Roma winger Justin Kluivert, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, AC Milan forward Patrick Cutrone and Real Madrid teenager Vinicius Junior to the honour, won by Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe last year. Kluivert was previously seen as the leader for the award midway through the voting process, but the Ajax star was recognized by Tuttosport on Monday as the 2018 winner.
Netherlands international De Ligt – under contract until 2021 – has been a revelation since making his debut for boyhood club Ajax in 2016, establishing himself in the heart of the Eredivisie club’s defence. A first international call-up following last year and De Ligt continues to attract interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Barca reportedly at the front of the queue.
Previous winners of the award include Mbappe, Paul Pogba, Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling, Isco and Lionel Messi. De Ligt is the first ever defender to win the award with eight midfielders and seven forwards having previously won the title.