Mino Raiola has leapt to the defence of his client Matthijs de Ligt- by bizarrely comparing him to an oil tanker, and characters from hit TV show Game of Thrones.
The Dutch defender has endured a difficult start to his Juventus career after Raiola helped mastermind his £68million summer switch from Ajax.
Criticism has been levied at the 20-year-old after a series of disappointing performances, but Raiola insisted the best is yet to come from his client.
“Matthijs is becoming like the Night’s Watch [from GoT], you can see him developing before your eyes,” Raiola told Sport Voetbal Magazine.
“I hear that he is struggling at Juventus, but I just see that Matthijs is developing.
“This is the first time he is at a top foreign club with a different culture. He was only used to the culture at Ajax.
“Matthijs is like an oil tanker, you can’t expect him to suddenly turn 90 degrees. He goes steadily. But, once he’s on course, he can’t be stopped.”
De Ligt has formed a solid partnership at the back with Leonardo Bonucci, in the absence of injured veteran Georgio Chiellini.
He even got on the scoresheet last time out, heading home a late goal to round off the 3-0 win over Fiorentina.
Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the other two goals in the game, and has since celebrated his 35th birthday.
There was no resting up for the Portuguese international however, as he was put through some gruelling shuttle runs by Juve coaches at the club's training base.
Juventus sent Ronaldo their wishes on Instagram with their message, which read: "Happy Birthday martian!"
Ronaldo celebrated his birthday in the city centre with his family, who with a new £600,000 car.
