Why Matthijs de Ligt is Moving from Ajax to Juventus

Matthijs de Ligt's transfer-saga to Juventus is almost coming to an end according to Ajax's director- Marc Overmars. 

According to Voetbal International, Overmars said:

"The end of the transfer of De Ligt is near. We're awaiting bank guarantees because we are very strict with this at Ajax. Hopefully, things will progress, but I think there will be no further obstructions. They are Italians."

 On Sunday, de Ligt had been left out from the Ajax traveling squad for a pre-season trip to Austria, and he is expected in Turin, Italy today to undergo a medical check.
        The 19-year-old defender has become one of the top target by European clubs during this transfer window. However, the Serie A champions, Juventus were able to secure the center-back for a reported fee of €66 million ($74m, £59m). Although, de Ligt was to join Barcelona alongside his Ajax team-mate: Frenkie de Jong. Barca offered the defender the same wages: €9 million (£8m/$10m) a year but both Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain were willing to increase their amounts.

       When Barca did not raise their offer for the 19-year-old defender, feeling that a teenage becoming one of the highest paid players in the squad would displease some senior players, their desire to sign de Ligt faded.

Why de Ligt is Moving from Ajax to Juve?

Juventus forward- Cristiano Ronaldo played a pivotal role to convince the Dutchman to play in Italy. After Netherlands' defeat to Portugal during the Nations League final, Ronaldo was seen talking to de Ligt. After the match, Mathhijs de Ligt revealed  Ronaldo asked him to join him in Italy to be team-mates.

"That could be true, yes. I didn't understand him at first. I was a little shocked, so I laughed, but I didn't say anything. Shortly after the game you are not at all concerned with it, you are disappointed you have lost and that is the only thing you are thinking about."

Ronaldo's request possibility convinced de Ligt to Juventus after all, the former Ajax defender idolized Ronaldo as a child.

"I always wanted to be Cristiano Ronaldo when [my friends and I] were playing football in the garden," De Ligt told VI in May. "That was especially in his time when he played at Manchester United. "My first football shirt also belonged to him from that time."

However, Ronaldo was not the ONLY reason de Ligt joined Juve. Juventus provided the financial means to acquire the player by providing a €70m ($80m/£63m) transfer deal that will earn De Ligt €12m (£10.8m/$13.7m) per year, after tax.

Matthijs de Ligt will be joining the Juve squad alongside new players such as Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey next season.