Jaap Stam has spoken to TuttoJuve about Matthijs de Ligt’s move to Juventus and his development.

De Ligt made the move to Juventus from Ajax in the summer and has grown into a key player in Turin already.

Stam said,”He made a positive impression on me. Matthijs has shown himself well in recent months. He has had a bit of criticism and some difficulties in the beginning. That was mainly due to getting used to a different kind of football and he is also very young. Matthijs now plays at a large club with large players and the pressure has only increased. The opponents in Italy are also very different from those in the Netherlands.”

Stam thinks it’s only normal that De Ligt would struggle at the beginning,”I think it’s normal for a young player. He entered a new club in a different league. In the Netherlands it was easier and the opponent was of a lesser level. Ajax was also a challenge for him at first and he endured it, which is why Juventus had confidence in him. Above all, he must continue to believe in his own qualities. He is a smart boy, wants to learn and improve himself. “

The former Lazio and Manchester United defender thinks De Ligt will only improve from playing with Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, “They are excellent defenders, real winners used to playing big games. They are the best in the Serie A. Bonucci and Chiellini can teach De Ligt all kinds of things. How should you defend, how do you stay compact as a defense? Defending is done more as a team in Italy. ”




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