Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag has revealed that it was the club’s  decision to recruit ex-Ajax players. The Dutchman has coached Ajax in the past but said it was the management’s decision to rope in players like Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.

United has already signed players like Lisandro Martínez, Antony and André Onana, who played for Ajax. 

“First of all it is club decisions, none of them is only my decision,” Ten Hag said on Thursday. “It is always backed or even brought up through the scouting, recruitment, technical director, sporting director.

“It is a decision made by more than just one. But, some, you know also players and personalities and it has to fit also in the finance.”

Meanwhile, De Ligt has moved to United for an initial £38.5 million after playing for Juventus and Bayern Munich. Ten Hag showered praise on De Ligt, stating he has huge potential.

“He has fantastic potential,” the United manager said. “Matthijs turns 25 this week and he has almost 375 games for Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich under his belt. That is incredible.

“Now he is turning into his best years. He has great skills as a football player, but also in his character, his personality. I am very pleased to have him here.”

Ten Hag is confident ahead of the new season as he feels the players have the belief in the dressing room.

“What I can tell is there is a good fight here, a good spirit, we feel we have good players and a strong squad,” said Ten Hag. “That strengthens the belief and that’s important in top football and performance level to have this.

“And even when results are going against you that you are resilient and you keep the belief that you have good players and have constructed a good team.”

Manchester United will begin their Premier League campaign against Fulham on Friday at Old Trafford.