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The total defender: Ajax ace De Ligt in no rush for Barca

The 18-year-old finished fourth in the 2018 NxGn and he is already being linked with Europe's finest clubs

As one watches Matthijs de Ligt struts around the Johan Cruijff Arena, it’s easy to forget that the classy defender is just 18.

"He looks like he’s been doing this for six or seven years," Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar enthuses in an exclusive interview with Goal. "Matthijs is very mature for his age: he has the physique of a 24-year-old.

"He is also strong with both feet, has an extremely good range of passing, can head the ball, scores goals and is a real leader at the back already at the age of 18.