Manchester United’s summer signing, Matthijs De Ligt, faces renewed scrutiny after a turbulent international break with the Netherlands. The 25-year-old centre-back, once hailed as one of Europe’s brightest talents, has had a career full of ups and downs, and his recent performances have only added fuel to the fire of doubt surrounding his future, both at Manchester United and on the international stage.

A Troubling International Break

De Ligt, who reunited with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford after leaving Bayern Munich, was given the nod to start alongside Virgil van Dijk for the Netherlands in their Nations League matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany. However, things quickly unraveled for the Dutch defender.

In the first match, a 5-2 victory against Bosnia, De Ligt struggled and admitted to his poor performance after the game. “I should have done better at their second goal,” he confessed, clearly rattled by his display. “I kept having doubts during the play, and it’s just f****d.”

De Ligt’s struggles continued into the higher-profile clash against Germany. His errant pass directly led to Deniz Undav’s equalizer, and De Ligt was hauled off at halftime by manager Ronald Koeman, who admitted post-match that De Ligt was in a “period where all his mistakes are being punished.”

Former Dutch internationals Rafael van der Vaart and Pierre van Hooijdonk, covering the Germany game as pundits, did not hold back in their criticism. Van Hooijdonk called De Ligt’s mistakes “terrible” and questioned how many more crucial errors the Dutch national team could afford. Van der Vaart was more blunt, declaring De Ligt’s performance as “fatal.”

Even Virgil van Dijk, De Ligt’s centre-back partner, offered little consolation. “At the highest level, you will get punished,” said the Dutch captain, emphasizing the need to learn from such errors.

De Ligt’s Downward Spiral?

This isn’t the first time De Ligt has faced criticism for his performances. After bursting onto the scene with Ajax and earning a move to Juventus, De Ligt’s career trajectory seemed destined for greatness. However, his time in Italy was marred by managerial changes and inconsistencies in form. His move to Bayern Munich also failed to yield the expected results, with injuries and patchy performances leading him to fall down the pecking order.

Despite a title-winning season under Julian Nagelsmann, De Ligt’s role diminished under Thomas Tuchel, and he made only 16 starts in the Bundesliga last season. These struggles culminated in his move to Manchester United, where he’s been tasked with elevating the Red Devils’ backline.

Ten Hag’s Big Decision

De Ligt’s career so far has been anything but smooth, and his struggles on the international stage have only intensified the pressure. Erik ten Hag, who worked with De Ligt during their time at Ajax, now faces a crucial decision. Does he persist with De Ligt in Manchester United’s defense, hoping his confidence and form will return, or does he look elsewhere? With Harry Maguire still at United and Leny Yoro set to come back from his injury soon, De Ligt’s starting spot is far from guaranteed. Van der Vaart even suggested that Maguire could challenge De Ligt for his position, noting that the Englishman has shown resilience despite his own challenges.

What Lies Ahead?

De Ligt’s once-promising career now seems at a crossroads. His repeated mistakes on the international stage, coupled with a stuttering club career, have cast doubt on whether he can live up to the lofty expectations placed on him. As Rafael van der Vaart pointed out, De Ligt has never quite been the same since leaving Ajax.

However, De Ligt is still young, and his reunion with Ten Hag could be the opportunity he needs to rediscover his best form. The Dutchman has shown before that he can bounce back from adversity, and United fans will hope he can do so again, sooner rather than later.

For now, Erik ten Hag faces a difficult decision. Should he stand by De Ligt and help him through this rough patch, or should he make the tough call to bench his new signing? Either way, all eyes will be on De Ligt as he looks to prove that his best years are still ahead of him, rather than behind.