Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt ‘rejects Barcelona’

Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt has rejected the chance to join Barcelona, according to Cadena Ser’s El Larguero programme.

The 19-year-old has been the captain of the Amsterdam-based club for over a year and has starred for club and country.

Widely regarded as one of the best upcoming talents in world football, the central defender is set to command a €75m fee from Ajax.

His rejection of Barcelona was in spite of Blaugrana club president Josep Maria Bartomeu travelling to Amsterdam to convince the player, as he had successfully done with Frenkie de Jong.

De Ligt’s agent Mino Raiola was always a major stumbling block in a move to the Camp Nou, as Marca report, while Paris Saint-Germain are now the favourites to land the defender.

Juventus and Bayern Munich are also both said to be in the running, while a lack of first-team opportunities at Barca has previously been cited as an issue.

De Ligt starred in his side’s run to the Champions League semi-finals, heading in the winner in the quarter-finals at Juventus before also netting in the last four against Tottenham.

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