"It would be nice to play with Frenkie"

Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt has suggested he could join team-mate Frenkie de Jong in signing for Barcelona.

De Jong's €75million switch to Barca for 2019-20 was confirmed earlier in the year, with De Ligt reportedly close to following his fellow Netherlands international to the Catalan club.

Both players thrived as Ajax thrilled the football world in their run to the Champions League semi-finals, where Erik ten Hag's side were denied a place in the final in by Tottenham despite having led 3-0 on aggregate with 45 minutes to play.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool are also reportedly interested in the 19-year-old defender, but De Ligt has suggested his future could be at Camp Nou with De Jong.

"I think he had a great season. He deserves to sign for Barcelona," De Ligt said of De Jong.

"Play with him there? It would be good to play with Frenkie at a club, but in these moments I don't know what will happen." He said, at the gala where he was handed the MVP award of 2019. 

The Ajax captain wanted to wink at FC Barcelona, underlining his desire to wear the blue and burgundy shirt with his team-mate and friend from Amsterdam. A mutual interest, which flourishes in Barcelona as a movement full of symbolism with regards to Johan Cruyff.

However, Guillem Balagué, a journalist for 'AS', recently revealed that the 'Culé' offer is the lowest of the ones De Ligt has on the table. In this sense, the aforementioned media maintains that the salary mass of FC Barcelona leaves little room for manoeuvre and their proposal is very far from the pretensions of Raiola, the player's agent, and the footballer.

However, according to published 'Sky Sports', Liverpool and Manchester United are assuming it's a closed deal with Barcelona. Pessimism abounds in England, as clubs know that sooner or later Barcelona will reach an agreement and De Ligt, and he will join De Jong in the next Barcelona project.

Ajax have completed the signing of defender Lisandro Martinez from Defensa y Justicia, which could pave the way for De Ligt's sale.

 

May 20, 2019

The Argentina international signed a four-year deal on Monday, with sporting director Marc Overmars hailing the 21-year-old's potential.

"Martinez is a left-footed player who can handle multiple positions at the back. He is a defender who wants to play football," Overmars told Ajax's website.