Barcelona Transfer News: Real Madrid set to battle with Catalan giants for €70M rated striker, De Ligt hopes to sign for Blaugrana - April 12, 2019

#2 De Ligt hopes to sign for Barcelona, claims rival

Ajax v Juventus - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final: First Leg

Pol Llonch, who currently plays for WIllem II in the Dutch league, faced Ajax led by Matthijs De Ligt. The Spanish forward has been pivotal for Willem II this season but his team succumbed to a 4-1 loss when they faced Ajax last weekend.

The forward claimed that he spoke with De Ligt after the game when the Barcelona target revealed that he hopes to join Barcelona.

In an interview with Sport, Pol Llonch said:

“I asked him directly if he would end up signing for Barça and he told me that he hoped so, but that he didn't know anything at the moment. He said: 'I hope so.' I didn't speak with De Jong."

The two teams will face again in the final of Dutch cup. At 19, De Ligt is already the leader of Ajax and garnered wide interest due to his superior defensive abilities. It is an open secret that the Dutch prodigy has long been on the shortlist of Barcelona, who signed his teammate Frenkie De Jong in January.

“There is zero chance that De Ligt will continue at Ajax"...https://t.co/1KI8jyTDOR

— AS English (@English_AS) April 12, 2019

On how De Ligt would settle with the Blaugrana, Llonch said:

“That's the difficult part. You've got Pique, Umtiti, Lenglet. They are so good. I don't know what will happen with Lenglet and Umtiti but Umtiti has jut won the World Cup and Pique is one of the best in the world."

"That's where De Ligt might not have the same amount of playing time that De Jong will. But I don't know, that's a decision for the player, Barça and a question of time. They could trust him straight away and put him into the side. But as I told you, Umtiti and Pique are two of the best centre backs in the world so it'd be difficult."