Gary Neville aimed dig at Matthijs de Ligt before summer signing's Man Utd debut
Matthijs de Ligt made his Manchester United debut in their 1-0 win over Fulham, but club legend Gary Neville has shared his concerns about the former Bayern Munich defender
Gary Neville has warned Matthijs de Ligt's lack of pace and mobility could prove a major weakness for Manchester United.
De Ligt made his debut off the bench as United beat Fulham 1-0 in their Premier League opener, having joined from Bayern Munich just three days earlier. And speaking ahead of De Ligt's debut, Neville highlighted his concerns about the Dutchman.
"I thought they would sign quicker centre-backs but he is aggressive," Neville told Sky Sports. "He's not the most mobile so Man Utd maybe won't push up the pitch like Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have done.
"I thought Erik ten Hag might try and sign players that would allow them to really push up to the halfway line. I think with the midfield and the centre-backs that they've got with Maguire and Martinez still there and De Ligt they are going to end up playing a little deeper.
"It's not a problem but it is very different to how most of the top teams play. I don't think De Ligt's going to change that but he will provide some physicality and some presence."
However, Ten Hag believes De Ligt will prove an excellent addition at Old Trafford, insisting: "He has fantastic potential. Matthijs turns 25 this week and he has almost 375 games for Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich under his belt.
"That is incredible. Now he is turning into his best years. He has great skills as a football player, but also in his character, his personality. I am very pleased to have him here."
And De Ligt is confident he will fulfil his potential under Ten Hag, who previously managed him at Ajax. "Erik ten Hag shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me and I cannot wait to work with him again," he said.
"I know what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and I'm determined to continue that record at this special club. As soon as I heard that Manchester United wanted me, I felt an excitement about the opportunity for a new challenge at such an historic club.
"In the conversations that followed, I was impressed by the vision that the football leadership set out, and the role they saw for me in it."
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