It takes time for a team to come together, but the stars are aligning to lead Cristiano Ronaldo into a high-profile UEFA Champions League match-up with his former team.
Indeed, Real Madrid and Juventus have had momentous summers already, and Juve’s looks set to become even better with the capture of soccer’s most talked-about transfer teen.
[ MORE: Torres retires ]
Matthijs de Ligt has been linked with Barcelona, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City amongst others, but the 19-year-old Ajax man now reportedly has his sights set on Turin.
Sky Sports is reporting that De Ligt will become Maurizio Sarri’s first signing at Juventus, joining additions Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey.
The towering Dutch center back chipped in seven goals in 55 appearances last season, scoring against both Juve and Spurs in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League.
Juve won the scudetto by 11 points last season, and it’s hard to believe in anyone coming much closer than that next season unless Mario Mandzukic, Ronaldo, and Miralem Pjanic all hit a wall while Rodrigo Betancur, Moise Kean, and De Light (assuming the move happens) all fail to take another step in their careers. Oh, and Joao Cancelo, Paulo Dybala, Alex Sandro, Blaise Matuidi...