De Ligt’s mysterious absence has been hanging over the second half of Manchester United’s season.
Matthijs de Ligt broke his long silence on a mysterious back injury for Manchester United, revealing that he has “done everything” to return to action before succumbing to season-ending surgery.
De Ligt has not featured for Manchester United since November. During the intervening six months, the club have sacked Ruben Amorim, dispensed with interim Darren Fletcher and appear to be closing in on. The minimal amount of public utterances from any of United’s coaches has shrouded De Ligt’s rehabilitation in uncertainty, while the player himself has offered little in the way of public statements.
With just two games of the 2025–26 season remaining, it was announced by Manchester United that De Ligt had undergone “successful” surgery on a back issue which has dogged him for half a year.
“Since November I have done everything, pushing myself in every session and exploring every option, to get back to doing what I love, playing football,” De Ligt told the “I am grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout a difficult period in my career. I remain as determined as ever to represent Manchester United and play in front of our incredible supporters as soon as possible.
”De Ligt has been dealing with a back injury for the first time as a senior professional. The Dutch defender has previously been ailed by foot, knee, calf, groin, shoulder, ankle and thigh problems, as well as the common cold, during a career pockmarked by fitness issues. But his back had always held up. That emphatically changed just when De Ligt was enjoying some of his best form.
The towering center back played every minute of United’s first 13After being voted Manchester United’s player of the month for November, De Ligt warned: “Hopefully I can continue like this and, in the end, it’s all about the end of the season. ” Little did he know, that would be the end of his season. Matthijs de Ligt will miss the World Cup.
| Ash Donelon/Manchester United/Getty Imageswith some faint hope of a belated return to action before the club campaign’s conclusion, affording him time to properly prepare for the 2026 World Cup. Those plans have been scuppered by surgery, with the Netherlands international confirming that he will sit out the summer tournament in North America. The club statement announcing De Ligt’s surgery claimed that the defender is “expected to return for United in the early stages of the 2026–27 season.
” This will at least ensure that De Ligt has started every season of his senior career with a different manager compared to the year before. This news could also inform Manchester United’s summer transfer policy.
The Red Devils have already extended Harry Maguire’s contract for another year to keep their defensive reserves intact and the impending return of De Ligt could further convince the club’s recruitment team to prioritizeGrey Whitebloom is a writer, reporter and editor for Sports Illustrated FC. Born and raised in London, he is an avid follower of German, Italian and Spanish top flight football.
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'One-man army': Man arrested after being seen wandering Philadelphia streets with AR-style pistolA man who was seen on social media wandering around Philadelphia with an AR-style pistol is now off the streets and facing charges.
Read more »
Why Marvel Fans Are Calling Out Tom Holland's Spider-ManTom Holland as Spider-Man in Spider-Man Homecoming
Read more »
Joliet man charged with fatally shooting another man during an argument in KenwoodPolice said that on April 2, the victim and suspect were involved in an argument when he allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the victim multiple times.
Read more »
The Classic Far Side Comics That Rewrite HistoryFar Side grinning man (left) and wide-eyed man (right)
Read more »