De Ligt praises Chiellini's help during his time at Juventus
Quick summary
Matthijs de Ligt reflects on his challenging start at Juventus and credits Giorgio Chiellini for helping him settle and develop at the club.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMatthijs de Ligt has looked back on his time at Juventus as a defining chapter in his career, crediting Giorgio Chiellini with helping him settle into one of European football’s most demanding dressing rooms.
The Netherlands defender, now at Manchester United, joined the Bianconeri from Ajax in 2019 as one of the most coveted young centre-backs in the game, spending three seasons in Turin.
Speaking to Manchester United’s media , he reflected on the culture shock of arriving among a squad of serial winners, and the veteran captain who eased his path.
“Chiellini was really very helpful to me at the start,” De Ligt said. “When I arrived at Juventus he tried in every way to help me settle in and become the best player possible.”
The adjustment, he admitted, was anything but straightforward.
“It was difficult at the start because you walk into a dressing room where these players have won everything,” he explained.
“But it’s important to stay yourself and show yourself for who you are. At a certain point I understood that they were normal people and that we were there for the same goal. What did I learn in Italy? A lot, in every league I learned something.”
TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 14: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Juventus and Atalanta BC at Allianz Stadium on August 14, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images) De Ligt on sharing a dressing room with a childhood idol at Juventus His spell in Turin also brought a full-circle moment, reuniting De Ligt with the player he had idolised as a boy: Cristiano Ronaldo, his team-mate at Juventus.
“I think I was about 7 or 8 when Manchester United won the Champions League,” he recalled.
“At that time he was, obviously, one of the most important players in the world. He had this style that everyone wanted to copy. So yes, he was probably one of my first idols.”
He has since shared a pitch with another early reference point, former Ajax man Christian Eriksen.
“In the youth teams I also played in midfield and he played exactly in my position,” De Ligt said. “So at that time he was really the example of one of the players I admired most.”
He added: “It’s curious that in the end I really did play with him, just as with Cristiano. He was one of my biggest idols when I was younger.”
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What happened
Matthijs de Ligt has spoken fondly of his time at Juventus, highlighting the crucial role Giorgio Chiellini played in supporting him during a difficult initial period in Turin. The Dutch defender arrived as a highly touted teenager and faced significant pressure, but credits Chiellini's guidance with helping him adapt both on and off the pitch. The interview reflects a retrospective look at de Ligt's growth in Serie A before his subsequent move to Bayern Munich and then Manchester United.
Chance analysis
This is a retrospective/evergreen piece with no immediate tactical or match-day implications. It provides historical context about de Ligt's development arc in Serie A and his relationship with a now-retired Italian legend. While interesting for narrative purposes, it has minimal relevance to upcoming match predictions or fantasy decisions, unless used to evaluate de Ligt's character and leadership qualities that may carry over to his current club.
No direct impact on current teams or upcoming matches; purely retrospective content.
No actionable intelligence for match prediction; ignore for fantasy and betting purposes.