Theo Walcott admits he wanted Arsenal to sign Manchester United’s new arrival.
Theo Walcott admits he wanted Arsenal to sign Manchester United’s new arrival
Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has revealed that he had hoped to see his former club sign player who recently joined Manchester United
Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has revealed that he had hoped to see his former club sign Matthijs de Ligt, who recently joined Manchester United in a high-profile summer transfer.
De Ligt, along with Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui, arrived in Manchester on Monday to undergo medical examinations at Old Trafford, where both players are set to become key additions to Erik ten Hag’s squad.
Ten Hag, who previously worked with De Ligt during their time together at Ajax, was eager to reunite with the Netherlands centre-back at Manchester United. Following the completion of their deals, both De Ligt and Mazraoui are expected to feature in Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Fulham on Friday.
While some pundits have questioned United’s decision to sign De Ligt, Walcott firmly believes that the 25-year-old defender represents an upgrade over the club’s current defensive options. The former England international also disclosed that De Ligt was a player he had previously wanted to see at the Emirates Stadium, particularly during a period when Arsenal’s centre-back options were less robust.
“It will be interesting to see how quickly they [De Ligt and Mazraoui] can adapt,” Walcott said during an appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live. “These guys are going to have to start straightaway. It’s not easy to get up to speed in the Premier League; we’ve seen United players struggle with that in the past.
“They’re good players, we’re talking about good players, but some players seem to find it daunting at United. When there was talk about De Ligt coming to the Premier League, he was the sort of player I thought, ‘Oh, Arsenal could do with someone like him,’ especially when they were going through a transition with their centre-halves not being as strong. So yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing what he is going to provide at United. He’s better than what they’ve currently got.”
De Ligt and Mazraoui are set to become Manchester United’s third and fourth signings of the summer, following the acquisitions of French defender Leny Yoro and Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee.
However, not everyone is convinced that De Ligt is the right fit for Manchester United. Club legend Rio Ferdinand has voiced his concerns, suggesting that the Dutchman might not be the solution United are looking for. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand commented, “Mazraoui will play right-back because Wan-Bissaka will be sold. I think that’s a good deal all around. I still think [Diogo] Dalot plays ahead of him.
“But with De Ligt… I watched him at Ajax; he was brilliant that year when they got to the semi-final with ten Hag before being beaten by Spurs. He was commanding, everything you wanted in a defender, composed. Then he goes to Juventus, you look at that and think, great move. A defender going to learn from the likes of [Leonardo] Bonucci and [Giorgio] Chiellini and all them guys.
“But it just fills me with disappointment with the way his career has gone since then. I think he had 16 starts last season. A lot of injuries, doesn’t start many games in the last two or three years, and Manchester United are spending 45-50 million pounds on him.”
