De Ligt is ready to leave Juventus -Raiola

Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt is ‘ready for a new step’ in the words of agent Mino Raiola, who has represented the 22-year-old since his Ajax days.

De Ligt joined Juve in 2019 after becoming one of the breakout stars of Ajax’s journey to the Champions League semi-finals, which included claiming the scalp of the Turin giants.

The Turin giants won the race for his signature, sealing a deal worth up to €85.5m, and he has since played 89 times for the club, winning Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana honours.

Juve failed to win the league last season and have struggled so far in 2021/22, trailing leaders and reigning champions Inter by 12 points. They are even five points adrift of the top four.

It has already been rumoured that De Ligt could move on if his side fail to close that gap and miss out on Champions League football for the first time since 2011/12.

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But now Raiola, in an interview with Dutch publication NRC, has suggested that both he and the player consider it time to start a fresh challenge somewhere else, regardless of what happens this term.

“[De Ligt] is ready for a new step…he thinks that too,” the agent said.

De Ligt is still under contract at the Allianz Stadium until 2024, which gives Juve a firm position from which to command a sizeable transfer fee. However, if they are not able to offer Champions League it will put more pressure on them to sell to a club that is in the competition.

Still at the beginning of his career, De Ligt’s long-term potential would ensure he would be a tremendous asset for any of Europe’s top clubs.