Matthijs de Ligt broke his long silence on a mysterious back injury for Manchester United, revealing that he has “done everything” to return to action before succumbing to season-ending surgery.

De Ligt has not featured for Manchester United since November. During the intervening six months, the club have sacked Ruben Amorim, dispensed with interim Darren Fletcher and appear to be closing in on permanently appointing Michael Carrick . The minimal amount of public utterances from any of United’s coaches has shrouded De Ligt’s rehabilitation in uncertainty, while the player himself has offered little in the way of public statements.

With just two games of the 2025–26 season remaining, it was announced by Manchester United that De Ligt had undergone “successful” surgery on a back issue which has dogged him for half a year.

“Since November I have done everything, pushing myself in every session and exploring every option, to get back to doing what I love, playing football,” De Ligt told the club’s official…