Manchester United have launched their new white third kit. A more appropriate colour would have been orange. Erik ten Hag is not oblivious to the Dutchification of United. "Believe it or not, his name (Matthijs de Ligt's) did not come from me in the process," he told AD last month.
Yet Ten Hag tried to sign De Ligt in his first summer at United. De Ligt ticks all of the boxes: born in the Netherlands, played for Ajax and played for Ten Hag.
As does Noussair Mazraoui (the Morocco international was born in the Netherlands). Bayern Munich board member Uli Hoeness wryly highlighted De Ligt's nationality. "De Ligt is Dutch, the coach at Manchester United is Dutch." READ MORE: Why Fernandes is getting a new contract even though current deal runs until 2027 READ MORE: United progressing with two new signings With De Ligt and Mazraoui, Ten Hag has an XI of United signings born, or who have played, in the Netherlands: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Malacia, Amrabat, Mount, Eriksen, Antony, Zirkzee, Weghorst.
They could even operate in an Ajax 4-3-3 formation. Jonny Evans played in the Amsterdam Tournament as a teenager, too. With a new co-chairman, a new chief executive, a new technical director and an inaugural sporting director, United are having a more Dutch-centric summer than the previous two.