Manchester United have completed their third and fourth signings of the summer, with Bayern Munich duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui having successfully undergone medicals at Carrington yesterday. Their arrivals herald further reinforcements in defence for the Red Devils, with the departures of Raphael Varane (Como), Willy Kambwala (Villarreal) and the recently announced exit of Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham accentuating the need for numbers at the back. Let’s take a closer look at what each player will bring to this Manchester United squad.
Manchester United Double Swoop for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui Analysed
Further Ajax Influence
Erik ten Hag has managed both players at Ajax previously. His emphasis on recruiting players that he has already managed, including the likes of Antony, Lisandro Martinez and André Onana, or players that have previously played in the Netherlands more generally, such as Tyrell Malacia or Sofyan Amrabat, has been the subject of criticism. However, it makes sense for the club to recruit players that have experience of the style of play that the manager wants to implement.
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De Ligt and Mazraoui thrived in the Netherlands under the tutelage of the current Manchester United coach and will be acutely aware of the demands he places on his defenders not only to prevent goals but especially in starting attacks and participating in build-up. Mazraoui, in particular, is a perfect example of a modern full-back, linking with midfielders to progress the ball and marauding down the flank to create overloads in attack.
Noussair Mazraoui to Manchester United – Video Scouting Report 🧵
Strengths, Weaknesses, Tactical Flexibility 👇 pic.twitter.com/WG7TdCsFs5
— Charlie (@ThreadmanChaza) August 12, 2024
As for de Ligt, a key player and the youngest captain in Ajax’s history under ten Hag, his front-footedness, ball-winning ability and indeed ability on the ball make him a valuable addition. The squad, through injuries and a steep drop-off in the quality of replacements for those injured, struggled in that department last season.
Points to Prove
It’s safe to say that progress hasn’t been linear for either new signing at their previous clubs. A concern for Manchester United supporters has to be the amount of time both players have spent injured: de Ligt has missed 62 games over the past five seasons at Juventus and Bayern Munich, and Mazraoui a staggering 109 games over the same time period.
At a club that endured a significant defensive injury crisis that contributed to the derailment of their Premier League campaign in 2023/24, a continuation of those absences would be nothing short of a disaster as Ten Hag looks for more stability in his starting line-ups.
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Furthermore, those injury absences made it difficult for each player to build up consistent and stable form. At Juventus, it can be argued that de Ligt regressed after his time at Ajax, struggling to impose himself and stay fit in a team full of strong leaders and characters such as Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.
Whilst things have gone somewhat better at Bayern, the amount of games missed has allowed the likes of Dayot Upamecano and Eric Dier to stake strong claims for the centre-back spot, surely contributing to the Dutchman’s desire to reunite with ten Hag at Manchester United.
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Mazraoui is a player of huge potential, although very much the opposite of the outgoing Aaron Wan-Bissaka, in that his best work is done offensively rather than defensively. There will be times when his defensive credentials are tested and he will have to prove he is capable of fulfilling his potential out of possession as well as with the ball.
The Final Verdict on Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt
There are mitigating circumstances to the difficulties that both players have encountered in their careers until now. Indeed, Juventus and Bayern Munich have endured unprecedented periods of instability over the past few seasons, a scenario that Manchester United fans are no strangers to. There is so much potential in both players, a potential that manager ten Hag has succeeded in harnessing in the past. Can he do it again, or will the injury demons continue for the former Ajax duo?
