De Ligt opts out of COVID jab: ‘Not mandatory’
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Julien Laurens warns that returning managers aren’t always successful as Massimiliano Allegri replaces Andrea Pirlo at Juventus. (0:56)
Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt has moved to clarify his comments with ESPN Netherlands on taking a coronavirus jab.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, De Ligt said: “I have not taken a vaccination. It is not mandatory. I think you should be in charge of your own body.
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“The risk of infection is always there. I try to come into contact with as few people as possible outside the Dutch national team.”
However, the Netherlands international took to social media later that day and said he was in favour of the vaccination and planned to get a jab ahead of the European Championship this summer.
“In my recent interview, I was not clear with my response,” he wrote on Twitter. “In order to clear any doubts: I am absolutely in favour of the COVID-19 vaccination and will take it as soon as possible.”
In my recent interview, I was not clear with my response. In order to clear any doubts: I am absolutely in favour of the COVID-19 vaccination and will take it as soon as possible.
— Matthijs de Ligt (@mdeligt_04) May 29, 2021
De Ligt, 21, tested positive for COVID-19 in January and missed two Serie A matches as a result.
The defender has endured a difficult time at Juve this season as the team failed to claim a 10th successive league title, with Inter Milan crowned champions.
However, Juve finished the season by winning the Coppa Italia and secured Champions League football on the final day of the league campaign after Napoli were held to a draw against Verona.
“It was a tough season physically and mentally,” he added. “A season with ups and downs. I was out for three months, and then come back and you get corona.
“If you had said three weeks ago: ‘We will win the cup and we will make Champions League football,’ that would have been good.”
De Ligt has also been linked with a move away from Turin this summer, but when asked if he could see himself at Barcelona in the future, he replied: “I am very happy at Juve.
“I feel like a fish in water. Despite the team performances being less, I feel good on the pitch and appreciated. Would they let me go? There are plenty of clubs that have money problems, but you should ask the club.”