Ajax were among the winners on social media when they responded to Manchester United’s confirmation that they had confirmed the double signing of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
The two defenders came over from Bayern Munich for 60 million pounds. Both had already shone at Ajax a few years ago under the leadership of Erik ten Hag.
With their arrival at Old Trafford, another deal has been struck for the former Ajax stars, with Ten Hag continuing the trend of recruiting players he once worked with in Amsterdam.
Since taking charge of Man United two years ago, the Dutchman has now signed five players he once coached at Ajax. Lisandro Martinez and Antony are the first, followed by André Onana and on Tuesday de Ligt and Mazraoui.
Ten Hag continues to rely on players – and coaches – with experience in the Netherlands to help him turn around the club after a disastrous eighth-place finish in the Premier League.
Manchester United confirmed the double signings of Matthijs de Ligt (centre left) and Noussair Mazraoui (centre right)
United manager Erik ten Hag (left) previously worked with De Ligt (right) at Ajax
Mazraoui also shone under Ten Hag’s previous management at the Dutch club before leaving for Bayern Munich
Ajax and United have had a strong relationship for years and the Dutch club expressed its feelings about the transfer deals of the 13-time Premier League champions.
On X, Ajax’s official account hilariously posted the following message: ‘Manchester is red’, accompanied by a winking emoji.
The update was well received by United fans, who jokingly suggested that Ajax had become their ‘feeder club’, as they still have players coming to England who have represented both clubs.
Ten Hag has received a lot of support in the summer transfer market ahead of the new Premier League season
Lisandro Martinez (left) and Antony (right) previously joined Ten Hag when he left Ajax to take charge at Old Trafford
One response to Ajax’s online post read: ‘We are in the process of putting together a full Ajax team, do you have any players for sale?’.
Another United fan account similarly joked: ‘Our sister club. Keep producing the gems for us.’
Meanwhile, United could continue their trend of signing ex-Ajax stars as they have shown increasing interest in Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
The Catalan club are open to selling the former Ajax star, who shone under Ten Hag and has long been a target of his former manager, but have previously opted to stay in LaLiga.
