“In my recent interview I was not clear with my response”
Matthijs de Ligt has stressed that he is in favour of the Covid-19 vaccination, after appearing to suggest he had opted against having the jab in a recent interview.
The Juventus defender is currently with the Dutch national team as they prepare for the start of Euro 2020. His national team manager Frank De Boer said earlier in the week that approximately six members of his team had opted against having the vaccine, adding that it was a matter of personal choice and something which had to be respected.
In an interview given to ESPN.nl, De Ligt appeared to confirm he was one of the six squad members who had decided against the vaccination.
“I have not taken a vaccination,” he is quoted as saying. “It is not mandatory. I think you should be in charge of your own body.
“The risk of infection is always there. I try to come into contact with as few people as possible outside the Dutch national team.”
Several media outlets have run the quotes in the time since, with De Ligt responding by saying he was “not clear” during the interview, and that he did, in fact, intend to have the vaccination as soon as he possibly can.
“In my recent interview, I was not clear with my response,” a tweet De Ligt posted on Saturday afternoon says. “In order to clear any doubts: I am absolutely in favour of the COVID-19 vaccination and will take it as soon as possible.”
In my recent interview, I was not clear with my response. In order to clear any doubts: I am absolutely in favour of the COVID-19 vaccination and will take it as soon as possible.
— Matthijs de Ligt (@mdeligt_04) May 29, 2021
De Ligt and his Dutch teammates begin their Euro 2020 campaign on home soil on June 13 when they take on Ukraine in Amsterdam.
