Matthijs de Ligt: Dutch Delight Destined for His Own Dynasty
A continent wide scramble brings with it mixed emotions. On one side, we're left to deal with hourly updates that contradict the previous speculation to the point of exhaustion, but then equally, it is quite exciting to see where the player in question ends up.
They have the world at their feet, all the footballing powerhouses on their knees in desperation, and ultimately, a rather monumental decision to make.
When Matthijs de Ligt found himself in the above position, the saga dragged on. A bit too long, admittedly. At one point, it seemed as if Barcelona were nailed on victors, next Paris Saint-Germain, with Juventus eventually coming up trumps in securing the Dutchman's signature.
At this point, we can all be hugely grateful that he didn't go to Camp Nou.
Had he have done so, we probably wouldn't be talking about De Ligt in the same light. He'd have been off-course in a sea of mediocrity and ageing legs, lost a whole bunch of matches he shouldn't have, and been on the receiving end of one of the worst nights any club has endured in Champions League history. If not the worst.
That never took place, though. Banish such thoughts, rid ourselves of the nightmare and be thankful that De Ligt is a Juventus player, stamping his authority on the world of central defenders. Among whom he is one of the finest around.
It's a bit of a cop out to use the phrase 'the real deal', but in a similar vein to granting someone legendary status, when it's justified, it's justified.
Life in Turin wasn't the smooth integration that De Ligt might have hoped for. Acclimatising himself in Serie A was not going to happen overnight, but alongside Leonardo Bonucci, it appeared as if the bedding in process was a touch too daunting.
Simple passes out of defence went astray, he lost his markers from set pieces, but these minor infrequent errors began ironing themselves out. Soon enough, the towering centre-half who took the Netherlands and Europe by storm the previous campaign came to the fore. And BLIMEY, is he good or what?
Even in a team with Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks, it can't, in any way, shape or form, be disputed that De Ligt is far more important to Juve than the Portuguese forward.
They're a mess without him. Pluck him out of the team and the central defensive partnership is slow off the mark, not as agile in the air and less fierce in the tackle. Giorgio Chiellini and Bonucci are still top defenders, despite their age, but their understudy is now without doubt their immediate successor.
At just 21 years old, the former Ajax man boasts an almighty frame; armour, if you like. You won't muscle him off the ball. You won't nutmeg him on the sly, and rarely will you ever evade his challenges. A man mountain of sorts, but one that possesses that synonymous Dutch trait of polished technical skill and pin-point delivery.
As he found his feet in Serie A, so too did I Bianconeri. Nothing was clicking up front under Maurizio Sarri, their attack was blunt, disorganised and unimaginative, relying solely on individual moments of brilliance - or penalties - to hit the back of the net. Yet, with the solidity offered in defence by De Ligt, they at least had the platform to win matches, by hook or by crook.
Take the six-game spell from matchday 25 onward as an example. In that period, where De Ligt played every minute, Juventus conceded just twice. When a yellow card suspension ruled him out of the AC Milan clash, Sarri's men shipped in double that in less than 70 minutes. They were, as previously noted, a mess.
Juventus are entering a new era, fronted by club legend Andrea Pirlo. Deadwood is being shipped out, ageing players let go. At some point, too, Ronaldo will leave for pastures new. While for many that sends shivers down spines, the club have in their ranks, the best central defender in Italy.
He is, and will be, the best around for 10-15 years. The Best. Rebuttal is futile.
In him, Juve are the proud beneficiaries of a generational talent. It's disgracefully unfair that the Netherlands have him and Virgil van Dijk. Share the load, guys.
Selecting the five best in his position across Europe coughs up an outstanding few. You can make an argument for way more than than world class centre-halves, in truth. You can't however, dispute De Ligt's standing among those five. Moreover, it's impossible to debate that he won't sit atop that group in just a few years' time. Watch this space.
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