Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt admits he modeled his game on Tottenham centre-half Jan Vertonghen.

Both centre-halves are former Ajax players - De Ligt leaving Amsterdam this summer.

He told De Telegraaf: "I know all the great ones, Ronald Koeman, Johan Crujff, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, but unfortunately I have never seen them play football.

"I find it more special to succeed Jan Vertonghen. As a number four - he was my example at Ajax.

"Juve? I am in a new nation and I know that nothing is easy. At Ajax our real secret was the team. At Juventus everyone has a personalised work program, for each player he is to study what you need and work to improve on specific points.

"I will work hard, I hope to give football what they have been given champions like Van Persie, Robben, Koeman and Kuyt."