Capello Claims Juve Will Be Unbeatable With De Ligt

By Max Wise

Fabio Capello believes Juventus will win the Italian Serie A for a ninth successive season if they are able to secure the signing of Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax Amsterdam.

De Ligt has been in much demand ever since he led Ajax Amsterdam to the Dutch Eredevisie title, the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over two decades and also helped the Netherlands national team to the final of the inaugural UEFA Nations League.

De Ligt has accomplished all these feats at the tender age of 19, making him one of the most coveted players in the current transfer window.

Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain and Juventus are the leading clubs where De Ligt will likely end up if reports making rounds in various European tabloids are anything to go by.

Capello, who led Juventus to two Serie A titles which were later revoked due to the 2006 Calciopoli scandal, thinks the Old Lady will further tighten her grip on the Italian League if they add De Ligt to their ranks.

“If Juve sign De Ligt then it’s over. Again. And we go directly to the season after," Capello told Corriere dello Sport.

“De Ligt is the best defender out there. He allows you to defend with two, freeing up the full-backs, like he has at Ajax.

“With him, Juve will have hit the jackpot. Without him, well, it could help the others get closer.

“Let me be clear. When I talk about others, I’m referring exclusively to Napoli and Inter.

De Ligt will be a welcome addition to a Juventus backline that includes ageing defenders like Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, while veteran Andrea Barzagli retired after last season.