Barcelona Are 'On The Verge' Of Signing Ajax Captain Matthijs De Ligt
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Matthijs de Ligt could be heading to the Camp Nou this summer after reports suggest that Barcelona are on the verge of signing him.
According to Sport, Rai Sport has said that Ajax director of football Marc Overmars has reportedly told Juventus director of football Fabio Paratici that the 19-year-old highly rated centre-back would be moving to the Spanish club.
CalcioMercato added that the Eredivisie side have 'reminded' Paratici the cost of the Ajax captain, with the La Liga champions ready to part with €80m for him.
In March, Overmars said that he loved Barcelona, but he was unsure if de Ligt, who has also been the target of Manchester City and Liverpool, could be following in the same footsteps of fellow teammate Frenkie de Jong and be heading to the club.
"I love Barcelona, but I do not know what he [de Ligt] will do," he told TV3 at the time.
De Ligt has become one of the most sought-after young players in Europe after a superb season with Ajax, helping them to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and challenge for the Eredivisie title.
Following their victory over Juventus in the Champions League, in which De Ligt scored the winner, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand called the Netherlands international the "best young centre-half on the planet."
"He has beautiful and majestic ball-playing ability and scored a huge goal as well there as well," he continued.
"The blend they've got with the young players and the older more experienced players -- [Dušan] Tadić was almost given away by Southampton and is now producing miracles in the Champions League this year.
"It's exciting times for Ajax."
"He's the best young centre-half on the planet!"
Rio Ferdinand is full of praise for Ajax and their young captain Matthijs de Ligt :heavy_multiplication_x::heavy_multiplication_x::heavy_multiplication_x:
What a team :clap: pic.twitter.com/j32EqfTmYm
- Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) 16 April 2019
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Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: Football News, Matthijs de Ligt, Football, Barcelona, Eredivisie, Ajax, Juventus, La Liga, Camp Nou
