Manchester United have been active in the summer transfer market, particularly focusing on strengthening their defense. One of the most significant additions is Dutch center-back Matthijs de Ligt, who arrived from Bayern Munich for an initial fee of £38.5 million on a five-year contract.
De Ligt brings a wealth of experience to a United defense that has often struggled with conceding goals. He made his debut as a substitute during United’s recent 1-0 victory over Fulham.
As De Ligt works toward full match fitness, fans are optimistic that he can help manager Erik ten Hag restore United’s dominance in English football. However, former United striker Dimitar Berbatov has expressed some concerns about whether the 25-year-old can handle the demands of a busy fixture schedule.
“In a way, yes. My only concern for him is to stay fit,” Berbatov said in an interview with Futbin.com when asked if De Ligt can strengthen United’s defense.
“Obviously, Ten Hag knows him well from their time together at Ajax. After that, he moved to Juventus and then Bayern Munich. Some might criticize him for switching clubs frequently, but every team he joined ended up as champions. So, let’s hope he brings that winning mentality to United.”
Berbatov continued, “Jokes aside, he’s a top defender. The key is for him to stay fit, which is crucial for any player. Ten Hag will likely trust him, but the Premier League is a different challenge. We’ll see how he adapts to the pace and the quick attackers he’ll face.”
United’s next Premier League match is on Saturday when they visit Brighton and Hove Albion, who started their season strongly with a 3-0 win over Everton.
