Ten Hag confirms 3 Manchester United stars will be available to face Fulham in PL opening clash
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has said that centre-backs Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt and full-back Noussair Mazraoui will be available for the Premier League opener at home to Fulham on Friday (August 16). De Ligt and Mazraoui have arrived from Bayern Munich this summer.
The Bayern pair has arrived on a reported £60 million move (as per BBC), with De Ligt signing a five-year contract and Mazraoui four. Notably, the two players played under Ten Hag at Ajax.
Meanwhile, Maguire - who arrived from Leicester City in the summer of 2019 - missed Euro 2024 due to injury. However, the Englishman - along with De Ligt and Mazraoui - are set to be available for the game with Fulham on Friday, as per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
The Red Devils are coming off an FA Community Shield loss to Manchester City on Saturday (August 10).
Alejandro Garnacho potentially set the Red Devils up for a win by opening the scoring eight minutes from time. But Bernardo Silva equalised for City seven minutes later to force penalties.
In the ensuing shootout, Manchester United squandered a 3-1 lead - with Jadon Sancho and Jonny Evans missing - as City won 7-6 to lift their first title of the new season.
What Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui said after sealing Manchester United move
Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui are both delighted to arrive at Manchester United following two seasons at Bayern Munich, having previously played together at Ajax.
While De Ligt, 25, left the Eredivisie giants in 2019 and played three seasons ta Juventus and two at Bayern, the 26-year-old Mazraoui bid adieu to Ajax in 2022 to move to the Allianz Arena.
With the pair now set to embark a new adventure at Old Trafford, they are both delighted to arrive at the club. De Ligt said about reuniting with his former boss Ten Hag (as per BBC):
"Erik ten Hag shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me, and I cannot wait to work with him again. I know what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and I’m determined to continue that record at this special club."
Mazraoui added:
"It is exciting to be reuniting with him (Ten Hag) as I enter the prime years of my career. I know what he expects from his players, and I will give everything to help the group be successful."
Both players are expected to make their Manchester United debut on Friday against the Cottagers.