Manchester United has bolstered its defense with the signing of two Bayern Munich defenders, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. The duo completed their contracts on Tuesday, making United their third team together. Both players are expected to feature in the team’s season opener against Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday.
Matthijs de Ligt, Manchester United new centre-back, emphasized the significance of his long-standing partnership with Mazraoui, highlighting how it will enhance the team’s defense, an area that suffered from injuries last season.
“What can I say about Nous? He’s an amazing guy, an amazing player,” De Ligt shared in an interview with United’s in-house media. “I’ve known him for a long time, about 10 years now.”
De Ligt further added, “There’s a reason we always end up together—first at Ajax, then at Bayern Munich, and now at United. It’s a special relationship, and I’m really happy that he’s here. We can help each other a lot.”
Captain Bruno Fernandes has also committed his future to United by signing a new contract that keeps him at the club until June 2027, with an option to extend for an additional year.
De Ligt, who signed a contract until 2029, and Mazraoui, whose deal runs through 2028, have played over 100 games together at Bayern and Ajax. They are also well-acquainted with manager Erik ten Hag, having both played under him during his tenure at Ajax.
Reflecting on his relationship with Ten Hag, De Ligt said, “He played a big part in my development. He was the first coach to make me captain. I was 18 years old, and he gave me so much confidence. He told me right from the start, ‘You are an example for the team, and I want you to be captain.’ The confidence he showed in me at that age was something special.”
Suspension
Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma will miss the start of the season after being suspended by the club. The suspension follows an investigation into footage that shows him appearing to inhale nitrous oxide.
Bissouma had uploaded clips of himself using nitrous oxide, a substance now classified as a Class C drug, onto Snapchat last weekend. The Mali international has since apologized, acknowledging in a statement his “severe lack of judgment.”
As a result of the investigation, Bissouma received a one-match suspension, ruling him out of Tottenham’s opener against Leicester on Monday.