Ajax legend Danny Blind has insisted that Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona linked defender Matthijs De Ligt should only leave the Dutch giants when he feels completely ready.
A product of the Ajax academy, the 19-year-old is already club captain at the Amsterdam ArenA and is considered one of the best young defenders in Europe.
The youngster made his debut for the Netherlands when he was 17 and played in the Europa League final against Manchester United for Ajax.
Blind conceded that it is far from normal for a 19-year-old player to captain a club of Ajax’s stature and insisted that it only underlines how talented De Ligt is.
He told Italian daily Tuttosport: “De Ligt’s rapid development doesn’t surprise me.
“He was already very talented at 17 and being Ajax captain at 19 is not a normal thing.
"It shows that he is exceptional.”
The youngster is being chased by a who’s who of European football at the moment, with clubs such as Barcelona, Tottenham, Manchester United and Juventus all being linked.
Blind stressed that despite his talent De Ligt is still a young player and he wants him to be sure about leaving Ajax before taking the decision to go.
When asked which club De Ligt should join, the former Ajax captain said: “I cannot answer this question.
"My hope is that he will stay a year longer at Ajax.
“He is strong but young.
"He should leave Amsterdam when he feels totally ready for an experience abroad.”
