Former Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen has raised fresh concerns about Matthijs de Ligt, claiming the Dutch defender’s weight and inconsistency could hold him back at Old Trafford.
Meulensteen, who served multiple stints under Sir Alex Ferguson during United’s most successful era, spoke candidly about his compatriot’s struggles since arriving in Manchester last summer in a £60million deal from Bayern Munich.
De Ligt’s transfer was billed as a statement signing, reuniting him with former Ajax mentor Erik ten Hag.
Yet within weeks of the move, Ten Hag was dismissed following United’s worst-ever Premier League start, leaving the 26-year-old centre-back to navigate his first season under new boss Ruben Amorim.
Former Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen has raised fresh concerns about Matthijs de Ligt, claiming the Dutch defender’s weight and inconsistency could hold him back at Old Trafford
|REUTERS
While many expected De Ligt to establish himself as United’s defensive leader, Meulensteen believes fitness and form have been stumbling blocks.
“Matthijs de Ligt’s form is a concern because consistent performances and leadership are not guaranteed week in, week out,” Meulensteen told CoinPoker.
“He had a significant number of injuries last year and wasn’t always a first-choice player for Ruben Amorim.
"When he first emerged at Ajax, he was a strong athlete, but I believe he has become a little too heavy over time, which hasn’t always benefited his game, despite his naturally strong build. This will be a critical season for him.”
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The former United coach suggested Amorim’s tactical choices will also determine how well De Ligt fares.
With a host of central defenders on the books — including Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Harry Maguire — competition for places remains fierce.
“It will be interesting to see what formation Amorim implements at Manchester United, given the number of centre-back options,” Meulensteen continued.
“They have so many central defenders to choose from.
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Rene Meulensteen worked as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United
|PA
"Consistency is key, especially in the backline to create stability.
"Players need to understand each other’s movements and react accordingly.
"Injuries sometimes necessitate chopping and changing, but this is definitely a critical season for him.”
Despite his criticism, Meulensteen acknowledged De Ligt’s relatively young age and experience at the top level could still work in his favour.
“He’s only 26, I thought he was older given all the clubs he’s played for,” Meulensteen said.
“You’d expect him to be the next consistent centre-back for the next four years, easily. We’ll see what happens.”
De Ligt has endured a stop-start career since bursting onto the scene at Ajax as a teenager, when he captained the Dutch giants to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.
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Matthijs de Ligt has endured a difficult start to his Manchester United career over the past year or so
|REUTERS
A high-profile switch to Juventus that year was followed by three years in Italy before another big-money move to Bayern, where injuries and tactical mismatches limited his impact.
Now at Old Trafford, the Dutchman is under pressure to rediscover the athleticism and authority that once made him one of Europe’s most sought-after defenders.
United are next in action against Grimsby Town on Wednesday night (8pm).