- Man Utd defender Matthijs de Ligt gives injury update
- Dutchman out for rest of season
- Back surgery means he’ll miss World Cup
Matthijs de Ligt has broken his silence amid a lengthy layoff that has seen him miss the second half of Manchester United‘s season. The Dutch defender has been out of action since December with a back problem.
When De Ligt sustained the injury in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, there weren’t major concerns. In fact, former coach Ruben Amorim suggested he’d be back within one or two weeks.
The weeks turned into months and the former Bayern Munich man was nowhere to be seen. A lack of updates from the club and the player led to wild theories about his situation.
De Ligt Confirms Injury Status
Michael Carrick has continuously hinted that De Ligt is working towards a return to the pitch. But the 26-year-old has now confirmed he won’t be back for the rest of the season.
De Ligt took to Instagram and posted a snap of himself after undergoing surgery. He captioned it:
“After 6 months of treatment and working hard to get back, surgery was the only option left. I’m disappointed I couldn’t help the team the last 6 months and obviously missing out on the World Cup but I am looking forward to doing everything to get back in front of the fans and feeling better again.”
This is the clarity United fans needed, and it finally puts an end to the constant speculation over the Dutchman. While the situation is hugely dissapointing, it allows the player to rest and recover in time for next season.
De Ligt had been a standout performer during the first half of the season, featuring 14 times and scoring one goal. He has yet to appear under Carrick, who Fabrizio Romano has confirmed is staying on as head coach for two years.
Back for Champions League nights
De Ligt has yet to play in the Champions League with United since arriving from Bayern in the summer of 2024 for an initial £38.5m. Instead, he participated in the Europa League last season, as the Reds lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
It’s been a strange spell thus far for the Dutch centre-back because of the twists and turns at Old Trafford. He’ll be playing under a third manager in two years by the time he’s back in action.
De Ligt’s experience will be hugely important ahead of the Red Devils’ return to Europe’s elite club competition. He has competed in the tournament with Ajax, Juventus and Bayern.
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