£42m Manchester United star told rival Brighton player is ‘100 per cent better’

Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke is simply a amended subordinate than Manchester United’s Matthijs de Ligt, according to Dutch pundit Valentijn Driessen.

Van Hecke was playing for NAC Breda successful the Eerste Divisie – the second-highest tier successful the Netherlands – erstwhile helium was signed by Brighton successful September 2020.

Following indebtedness spells astatine Heerenveen and Blackburn Rovers, Van Hecke returned to Brighton and formed a coagulated concern alongside Lewis Dunk past season.

The 24-year-old continues to impressment for Brighton and was rewarded with his archetypal elder headdress for the Netherlands nationalist squad successful September arsenic helium replaced De Ligt astatine fractional clip successful the 2-2 gully with Germany.

De Ligt, meanwhile, has endured a hard commencement astatine United pursuing his £42.9 cardinal determination from Bayern Munich successful the summer.

And Driessen feels Van Hecke is presently a amended enactment than De Ligt for the Dutch nationalist side.

‘Liverpool were truly outplayed [by Brighton] successful the archetypal half,’ Driessen said connected De Telegraaf’s Kick Off podcast.

‘Brighton played truly great. That Van Hecke… erstwhile you spot him successful the build-up, however calm helium remains… helium did astir everything right.’

When asked if helium believes Van Hecke is amended than De Ligt, Driessen replied: ‘Yes, 1 100 per cent. On the ball, definitely.

‘And successful presumption of defending… helium doesn’t request fouls, helium doesn’t bash truly anserine things.

‘I thought De Ligt was a batch amended yesterday against Chelsea than successful the erstwhile matches, but helium did marque a immense gaffe conscionable earlier the end. Literally. He slipped, which astir enactment Chelsea astatine 1-2. But for the remainder helium held his ain rather well. But I truly liked Van Hecke, yes.’

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