Marcello Lippi heaps huge praise on Juventus-bound star Matthijs de Ligt

Marcello Lippi has ‘never seen anyone’ as good as Matthijs de Ligt at his age.

The World Cup winning coach has worked with some of the game’s greatest defenders, including Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, and Fabio Cannavaro, but he insists none were at De Ligt’s level at the age of 19.

Ajax’s young skipper has attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs and looks set to make a big-money move to Juventus this summer.

Marcello Lippi has ‘never seen anyone’ as good as Matthijs de Ligt (pictured) at his age

And Lippi insists the move would be great for both De Ligt and the Italian giants. 

‘I believe that the player who would be the best signing for Juve would be De Ligt,’ Lippi told Tuttosport.

‘I think he is really strong. He’s physically imposing and has great football intelligence, he gives you a good balance, is technically strong and also scores a lot of goals.’

Lippi was asked who De Ligt reminded him of, considering he has worked with some of the best defenders in the game. 

The World Cup winning coach heaped huge amounts of praise on the 19-year-old defender

‘There is no need for comparisons, but I’ve seen plenty of greats, like Alessandro Nesta, Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Ciro Ferrara, Fabio Cannavaro, and Marco Materazzi. I’ve never seen anyone like that at his age.

‘Juve with De Ligt would make a further leap in quality, putting him beside Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci would be the key to making a strong Juventus even stronger.

‘They would be capable of achieving any target, even the Champions League.’