Matthijs de Ligt will miss the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign after undergoing surgery to correct a persistent back injury that has kept him sidelined since November.
In a statement released on Friday, Manchester United confirmed that the defender successfully underwent the procedure after extensive rehabilitation efforts failed to fully resolve the problem.
According to the club, De Ligt had been working hard throughout his recovery process before medical staff decided that surgery was the best option to address the injury.
The Dutch defender is now expected to remain out of action until the early stages of next season, dealing a major blow to both Manchester United and the Netherlands national team ahead of the upcoming World Cup campaign.
De Ligt had enjoyed a strong start to the season before the injury setback. The former Juventus and Bayern Munich defender played every minute of Manchester United’s opening 13 Premier League matches before being forced out through injury.
Reacting to the development, De Ligt admitted the recovery period had been one of the most difficult moments of his career.
“Since November, I have done everything, pushing myself in every session and exploring every option, to get back to doing what I love, playing football,” he said.
The defender also thanked supporters, teammates and medical staff for standing by him during the challenging period and expressed determination to return stronger.
“I remain as determined as ever to represent Manchester United and play in front of our incredible supporters as soon as possible,” he added.
The absence of De Ligt is expected to create a significant challenge for the Netherlands as they prepare for the World Cup without one of their most experienced defenders.
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