De Ligt warned he will lost place in national team if he can’t play at Juve

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Ronald Koeman is ‘not worried’ about Matthijs de Ligt but will consider the defender’s Netherlands place if he does not start playing for Juventus soon.

“On the one hand, you think he’ll play because he cost a lot of money,” Koeman told NOS.

“But if a club have Chiellini and Bonucci in their squad, it’s only fair that the Coach can make different decisions.

“I talked to M atthijs two weeks ago. He explained to me that he still needed adapt to the way Juve play and defend.

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“Everything was different at Ajax: while physicality is enough in the Netherlands, positioning is so important in Italian football.

“I’m not worried, though. Someone with his quality will play so many games and become a starter. He’s not in doubt for the national team.

“However, if he’s still on the bench by October, he could lose his rhythm. It’s something I must consider.”

The Oranje CT and former goalscoring centre-back had a similar career trajectory, leaving PSV for Barcelona in 1989.

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