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<div data-fco-dynamic-placement="" data-fco-dynamic-placement-type="match-recirculation" data-fco-embed-id="fco-dynamic-placement:match-recirculation"><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-recirculation">{"type":"match-recirculation","data":{}}</script></div><p><b><strong>Matthijs de Ligt</strong></b><span> has now been out for almost a year. The last match he played was Manchester United v Crystal Palace, 1-2, on 30 November 2025. Then came</span><b><strong> the ordeal, because of a back problem which, after six months of treatment, forced him to undergo surgery </strong></b><span>in April. The Dutchman, born in 1999, also missed the World Cup.</span></p><p><br></p><div data-fco-dynamic-placement="" data-fco-dynamic-placement-type="fcplayer-semantic"><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90","embedType":"SEMANTIC","embedId":"5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90","publisher":null,"playerId":null,"fallbackChannelId":null}}</script></div>

De Ligt’s ordeal, Gullit: “I really hope that all the pain he has been through can disappear”

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<p><span>Ruud Gullit, one of Dutch football's greats, has spoken about the former Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich defender: "He is a fantastic lad, on the pitch he has always given everything and I hope he can put this complicated period behind him. </span><b><strong>Injuries have affected</strong></b><span> his career up to now and I am very sorry about that, the hope is that he can have his revenge. </span><b><strong>I truly hope that all the pain he has experienced can disappear</strong></b><span>, so that he can manage to change things and still have a positive career."</span></p>

De Ligt’s ordeal, Gullit: “I really hope that all the pain he has been through can disappear” | Goal.com

The former Juventus defender has not played for almost a year because of a back injury

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