TURIN -- Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini asks Matthijs de Ligt to stay. The Netherlands international has been linked with Chelsea ahead of the January winter transfer window.

Chiellini hopes that De Ligt can be the successor to the BBC defence, which includes Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli. Therefore, he considered, if De Ligt was Italian, it would be easy to keep him a few years at the club.

"I hope Mino (Raiola) can side with us and leave him in Turin for a few more years," said Chiellini, quoted from Tribalfootball, Thursday (28/10).

According to the Italian national team defender, De Ligt has big muscles and legs. It's just that what makes it different is the mentality.

It is only natural that the former Ajax player is only 22 years old. But he already has the mind of a 30-year-old, who wants to improve every day.

''I admire him. Seeing De Ligt as an opponent and a teammate. He's just incredible,'' said Chiellini.