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With the 2019 transfer window having kicked into full gear, a host of signings are expected to be completed over the next two months as the biggest sides on the European continent attempt to bolster their squads in preparation for their assault next season.
One of such clubs is Barcelona FC and the area arguably in need of the most bolstering in their squad is their defense, as the Blaugrana have shown a porosity at the back in recent years which has cost them dearly.
One player who has been heavily linked with the Catalans is Matthijs de Ligt, but Barcelona find themselves in an intense battle for the teenager's signature, as he is also on the radar of virtually every top club in Europe, with Juventus, Manchester United and PSG all said to be interested in him.
The interest in his services is however not far fetched, as the 19-year-old is arguably the shining light in defense among his peers and has the potential to become the world's leading defender for the foreseeable future.
De Ligt has combined leadership with excellent reading of the game, considerable ability on the ball and a physical presence in the air to morph into the quintessential modern center-back and at just the tender age of 18 was made the youngest captain ever in Ajax's illustrious history while also becoming an established international with Netherlands.
His performance on field saw him become the first ever defender to win the prestigious Golden Boy award and it was expected that he would depart Ajax for bigger challenges on the back of his impressive displays on the continent last season.
Having seen his friend and compatriot Frenkie de Jong sign for Barcelona, reports emanated that the Ajax skipper was headed to the Camp Nou, with the club said to be confident in signing him.
However, comments from the player suggested that he did not know where he would play next and new developments indicate his move to Barcelona was not as cast in stone as was earlier believed.
New reports have emanated that despite Ajax agreeing a deal worth €75m with Barcelona, de Ligt himself turned down the Spanish giant's offer.
While his decision might come as a shock to some, it is not as far fetched as many would believe. In this piece, we shall be highlighting three reasons why De Ligt was right to turn Barcelona down.
#3 He might not get adequate playing time
While Matthijs de Ligt might be highly rated, it is pertinent to note that he is not quite well established or proven on the biggest stages and this could prove to be a problem at a club like Barcelona.
The club currently boasts the services of two World Cup winners in Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti at the center of the pack, while Ernersto Valverde has also shown a tremendous amount of trust in French international Clement Lenglet.
Even if Samuel Umtiti does depart as expected, De Ligt would still find himself competing for a starting spot with Lenglet and given the high trust placed in the 24-year-old by Valverde, there is no guarantee that the Dutchman would prevail.
If De Ligt were to transfer to Barcelona, he might not get as much playing time as he needs and this goes in contrast with what is obtainable at clubs like Manchester United and PSG and must have played a factor in him turning down the chance to be teammates with Lionel Messi.
#2 Potentially more financial reward for him if he goes elsewhere
As indicated already, Matthijs de Ligt is spoiled for choice over where his next destination would be, as virtually all the European heavyweights have been linked with his services.
Given the high demand for him, it stands to reason that the Dutch international would be placed at a premium by his club, while his suitors would also attempt to outbid one another with juicy offers to lure him.
As it happened, while Barcelona were willing to match Ajax's valuation of their prized gem, the club was less forthcoming about his salary demands and new reports have emerged that French moneybags are willing to double Barcelona's personal offer to a staggering £13.3m a year which is more than twice the £6m he was offered by Barcelona.
While they might not explicitly come out to say it, money is a critical factor in deciding career paths for footballers (just like the rest of us) and with there being a potential for him to earn more elsewhere, it is heavily justified that De Ligt turned Barcelona down.
#1 It might be in his best interests to remain at Ajax and continue his development
If there is one thing history has thought us, it is that more often than not, highly rated youngsters are usually burned after taking hasty decisions to star on the biggest stages.
While many might point to Kylian Mbappe and how well he is handling his time in the spotlight despite his young age, it must be noted that the PSG forward is the exception rather than the norm and the annals of football is littered with a plethora of youngsters with tremendous potential who frittered out simply because they were thrust onto the big stage prematurely.
Martin Odegaard, Renato Sanchez and Mario Gotze are just some of the more recent examples of players in this category, while going further back we find names like Adriano and Bojan Krkic who faded out after showing much promise in their younger years.
While his countenance and maturity might suggest otherwise, the step up to a club like Barcelona and the pressures associated with it might be too much for the young shoulders of Mattijs de Ligt to carry and given the unforgiving and brutal nature of fans at mega clubs like Barcelona, it might be in De Ligt's best interests to remain at Amsterdam for another season or two and continue with his development.
