Latest news with #MatthijsDeLigt
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Could you love someone who believed in fairies, wanted an open relationship or even took up golf?
Mercury is in retrograde, if I can believe an unsolicited email trying to sell me psychic services. Maybe that's why, according to a Dutch gossip account, the Manchester United centre-back Matthijs de Ligt and his wife, the model AnneKee Molenaar, could be splitting up only a year after they got married. I'm being facetious: I don't believe the position of a distant ball of iron and silicate in relation to other balls of stuff (yes, that's the scientific term) is influencing anyone's relationship, or anything else. Neither, apparently, does De Ligt. According to this rumour, he doesn't share Molenaar's interest in all things woo-woo – or 'spiriwiri' as they call it in Dutch. There are signs that Molenaar is woo-curious on her Instagram account, which features crystals and a book on tarot; it also suggests she is starting a new-agey-sounding business called 'Annie's Alchemia', though there is little more than a trademark registration to show for it publicly. Obviously, this story could be absolute nonsense. But is being a bit 'alternative' – getting into energy healing, aura reading or consulting clairvoyants – grounds for divorce? I, and probably you, have friends with unconventional beliefs (I often have to arrange my features into bland neutrality on matters of celestial alignment; they do the same when I claim the hens I keep are 'intelligent') and I'm fine with it. Surely you should be just as, if not more, accepting with your partner? Getting slightly spiriwiri seems pretty harmless, plus Molenaar's trademark filing covers everything from cookware to tealights, so maybe she is planning a woo-flavoured but hard-nosed commercial lifestyle brand à la Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop? That could just be common sense: footballing and modelling careers are short and it is wise to consider the future. In the meantime, though, if you are a strict rationalist, it might be annoying to come home having conceded a crucial equaliser to be told your root chakra is probably blocked and you should put black obsidian in your kit bag and burn palo santo sticks over your boots. Things do change in relationships, and not just one partner having a spiritual awakening or the other developing an intolerance to woo. How you manage this fascinates me, because at my time of life, it happens a lot. Midlifers who have long run on predictable rails suddenly veer off course; it starts to feel as if time is running out and we react by making dramatic changes. People explore their sexuality; they get into ultramarathons, environmental activism or, yes, crystals; they stop drinking, start microdosing or jack in accountancy to train as reiki healers. You think you know your beloved intimately, definitively, then one day they tell you they want an open relationship, believe in fairies, or, far more challenging, they have decided to take up golf. I've done it myself: I went vegan four years ago, a tough sell for my spouse, who hails from a place where dairy is a religion. How do you navigate that? Therapists would say cultivate compassion; stay open; be curious. I've seen, and admired, people doing that around me. But some change is impossible to be cool about: if your partner becomes a 'red-pilled' manosphere content consumer, anti-vaxxer or conspiracy theorist, most of us would struggle. Even when it is not ideologically beyond the pale, change can be treacherous to navigate. Fear is baked in to our reactions. Will they still love us? Can we still love them? It's happening with weight-loss drugs: it's fascinating – chilling – reading how one partner taking them can throw a grenade into a couple's relationship, feeding insecurities and eroding shared pleasures. I'm grateful that my husband gracefully accepted my tofu-bothering, even though it means we rarely eat the same meal. Your partner changing (and if you are lucky enough to grow older with a person you love, it will happen) tests your generosity, tolerance and communication skills and challenges your sense of self. Even if you are pretty solid on all counts, you might still run up against something you really can't get past and end up uncoupling. Isn't that terrifying when you think about it? It's enough to make anyone turn to crystals. Emma Beddington is a Guardian columnist
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Topless Joshua Zirkzee twerked on by partygoer in see-through outfit at festival as Man Utd star holidays with team-mate
MANCHESTER UNITED star Joshua Zirkzee was twerked on by a partygoer at a festival on holiday. The striker is enjoying some time away with his team-mate and compatriot, Matthijs de Ligt. 8 8 8 8 8 8 The pair went on a boat trip together and Zirkzee also attended the Jouvert celebrations in Barbados. Zirkzee, 24, went topless as he took part in the festivities, wearing only cargo shorts and Nike trainers. He was approached by a woman who started to twerk on the United star. Zirkzee had a surprise look on his face but began dancing with the individual. He later posed raising two fingers for a peace sign. After the whine Zirkzee had a cheeky look on his face and his shorts were soaking wet, with the Dutchman holding an empty water bottle. Revellers continued dancing around Zirkzee who also took a sip from his bottle, seemingly worn out by the activity. He also leaned against a wall and puffed out his cheeks. Zirkzee has reportedly attracted transfer interest from Inter Milan this summer, which United have been quick to shut down. However there is speculation the Red Devils could use Zirkzee in a swap deal to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli. Joshua Zirkzee breaks down in tears and is consoled by Man Utd and Fulham stars after penalty shootout miss 8
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ruben Amorim praised by Man United star Matthijs de Ligt for speaking 'the truth' during dismal first season
Ruben Amorim lost more than half of his Premier League matches during a tough first season as Manchester United manager — but he has at least won the approval of defender Matthijs de Ligt thanks to his straight-talking approach. Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot-seat in November. He then oversaw seven wins, six draws and 14 defeats in 27 league games, resulting in United finishing 15th in the table. He fared much better in the Europa League, where he guided United to the final — only to see them lose to Tottenham in a low-quality affair in Bilbao. Amorim has openly admitted that performances, as well as results, have not been good enough this season. In January, following a 3-1 home defeat by Brighton, he claimed his team was 'probably the worst in Manchester United history'. Speaking about the recent post-season tour of Asia, during which United lost 1-0 to an ASEAN All-Stars XI, Amorim then accused his players of being 'chokers' and suggested that hearing the fans booing may do them good. His brutal honesty has raised eyebrows among pundits and fans, but it has struck a chord with De Ligt, who has featured in 42 games for United since joining from Bayern Munich last summer. 'I'm from Holland so I like it,' De Ligt said. 'I can understand the media are in shock because normally this doesn't happen. But I think you can also be really happy that finally someone speaks out, says what he thinks and speaks the truth.' 'I really appreciate him in our conversations personally. It gives me a feeling I can trust him and he can trust me.' United's 15th-place finish marks their lowest since 1973–74, and defeat in the Europa League final means they'll be absent from Europe altogether next season. Despite that, De Ligt believes Amorim is laying the groundwork for long-term success. 'I've experienced many managers and he's one of the most easy to talk to as a player,' he added. 'He's really into details. Before signing new players, first he's looking at the culture, what needs to change and what can be improved to become a better football club. From next season we will see more of that. 'I think he wants to build a team of players who are together, fighting for each other and making the most out of what they have. Maybe before, you had the best players, but you're not a team.'
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'He wants to build a team of players who are together'
Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt feels the work Ruben Amorim is doing around the first-team group will pay dividends - despite being set to start next season under intense pressure."I've experienced many managers and he's one of the most easy to talk to as a player," said De Ligt."He's really into details. Before signing new players, first he's looking at the culture, what needs to change and what can be improved to become a better football club. From next season, we will see more of that."He wants to build a team of players who are together, fighting for each other and making the most out of what they have."Maybe before, you had the best players, but you're not a team."
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Amorim's blunt approach will benefit club
Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has praised Ruben Amorim's blunt approach and feels it will benefit the club in the long Amorim has found winning matches difficult since he arrived from Sporting in November, he has delivered some of the most withering statements about United during his short time in the 3-1 home defeat by Brighton in January he claimed his side were "probably the worst in Manchester United history".In the aftermath of the Europa League final defeat by Tottenham, he said he would walk away without talking about compensation should either the club's hierarchy or the fans feel it was the best way the recent post-season tour of Asia, Amorim accused his players of being "chokers" after their shock defeat by a South-East Asia select Ligt, who skippered Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, feels that, because of his nationality and the Dutch reputation for blunt speaking, Amorim's words are positive."I'm from Holland so I like it," he said. "I can understand the media are in shock because normally this doesn't happen."But I think you can also be really happy that finally someone speaks out, says what he thinks and speaks the truth."I really appreciate him in our conversations personally. It gives me a feeling I can trust him and he can trust me."United are reeling after their worst season domestically since the 1973-74 was no backdoor entry to the Champions League thanks to the Tottenham reverse, meaning United miss out on European football and the finances that come with it next season for only the second time since English clubs returned to Uefa competition in delivering just seven Premier League victories after arriving at the club in November, Amorim will start the new campaign under intense De Ligt feels the work Amorim is doing around the first-team group will pay dividends."I've experienced many managers and he's one of the most easy to talk to as a player," he said."He's really into details. Before signing new players, first he's looking at the culture, what needs to change and what can be improved to become a better football club. From next season we will see more of that."I think he wants to build a team of players who are together, fighting for each other and making the most out of what they have."Maybe before, you had the best players, but you're not a team."
