This is a very Jermaine Jenas take
If you’ve been paying even the slightest bit of attention to the Champions League this season you’ll know that, in the form of Matthijs De Ligt, Ajax have an absolute colossus of a centre-back.
Only 19 years of age, he is already captain of the historic club, who were cruelly knocked out in the semi-finals of the competition after Lucas Moura scored in the 95th minute to send Spurs through to the final against Liverpool.
His performances this season have caught the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs but according to Jermaine Jenas, if he was in charge of Manchester City (for example), he would go after Slabhead himself – Harry Maguire – instead of the Dutch wonderkid.
Speaking in the BBC studio, Jenas explained: “He is a top player. He is clearly a player with a bright future ahead of him and is only nineteen years old. But I think Harry Maguire is a better player right now.
“If I were in charge of Manchester City, I would take Maguire over De Ligt. I don’t see De Ligt doing anything Maguire can’t do. The only difference is the age. ”
Which, surely, is why you would opt for the younger player (by seven years) who has the potential to vastly outgrow Harry Maguire’s current ability?
Nope. Not if you’re Jermaine Jenas.
Still, the worst De Ligt opinion belongs to none over than the scouting staff at Manchester United, who decided to pass up on the chance to sign the defender after they found out his father was overweight and feared that young Matthijs would be prone to piling on the pounds as he got older.
You couldn’t make it up. Except given the current state of affairs behind the scenes at Old Trafford, including letting Ander Herrera leave the club on a free, you probably, definitely could.
