Many players would perform much better if they were given regular playing time. To begin playing with confidence, players need a lot of minutes under their belt and a lot of momentum.
It takes time for players to adjust to new clubs. Players may also be battling personal demons, either mental or physical, that prevent them from giving their all on the field. A player’s underperformance can be caused by a variety of factors. Quality, on the other hand, can’t be kept hidden for too long.
So here are four players who deserve more playing time to show their exceptional quality for the next season.
4. Matthijs De Ligt – Juventus
Matthijs De Ligt was signed by Juventus for €75 million from Ajax in 2019. He had led Ajax to a domestic double and the UEFA Champions League semi-finals the previous season. The youngster had shown his worth on the biggest stage, and it appeared that the money had been well spent.
In Serie A, De Ligt only appeared in 25 games. Only because Chiellini and Bonucci were forced to miss games due to injuries did he start as many games. The Dutchman needs minutes, especially since he is only 21 years old and has the potential to become a world beater.
We need to nurture such talent as best we can, and De Ligt deserves more playing time in the 2021-22 season.
3. Miralem Pjanic – Barcelona
This is a difficult situation. Last summer, Barcelona signed Miralem Pjanic in a swap deal that sent Arthur to Juventus. Due to a variety of factors, the 31-year-old struggled to find form at the Camp Nou.
Sergio Busquets plays holding midfield for Barcelona, and he is still quite good at it. He has been one of Barcelona’s best players in the last decade, and he is nearly impossible to replace in the first team.
Frenkie De Jong, another central midfielder, is a more enterprising presence in midfield than Pjanic, and is better at carrying the ball and navigating tight spaces. Pjanic was pushed further down the pecking order by Pedri’s entry into the fray.
But the truth is that the Bosnian international is a high-quality player with a lot to offer. Pjanic is being linked with a move to Juventus now that Allegri has returned as the club’s manager.
2. Aymeric Laporte – Man City
Manchester City were on the lookout for a centre-back to complement Aymeric Laporte when they signed Ruben Dias last summer. Since joining the club in January 2018, the left-footed defender had already established himself as one of the best in the English Premier League.
However, he was replaced by John Stones after a poor performance against Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-0 loss. After that, the Englishman formed a fantastic center-back partnership with Ruben Dias. As a result, Laporte was benched and only appeared in 14 Premier League games this season.
He’s a top-notch defender who deserves to see a lot more action. If that means leaving the club, he should think about it because he is far too good a player to be warming the bench.
1. Donny van de Beek – Man United
In the summer of 2020, Donny van de Beek was one of the most high-profile signings in the Premier League. He arrived at Manchester United to a lot of fanfare after three seasons with Ajax, where he was a key player.
Van de Beek, on the other hand, found himself in a difficult situation at Manchester United. Solskjaer simply lacked the type of players who would allow him to play a 4-3-3 attacking formation. He preferred a 4-2-3-1 formation with a double pivot in midfield.
But, according to recent reports, Solskjaer wants to play a more attacking formation this season. The Red Devils are expected to use a 4-3-3 formation, and the 24-year-old could finally get the playing time he so richly deserves.
Last season, Van de Beek showed flashes of his talent, but they were few and far between. He can once again demonstrate the kind of quality that made him a star at Ajax if he is given a sustained run in the starting lineup.