De Ligt has not played since November 30, 2025, after being sidelined by the injury. His extended absence has followed a difficult period with injuries, prompting Gullit to offer encouragement to his fellow Dutchman.
The former Netherlands international said he understood the difficulties De Ligt was facing after dealing with physical problems during his own career.
“I am sorry for what Matthijs de Ligt is going through. He is a fantastic boy, someone who always works at the highest level,” Gullit said.
“He has already had a lot of bad luck with injuries and has been away from the pitch for a long time because of this.”
De Ligt, born in 1999, has continued to receive support from prominent figures in Dutch football, with national-team captain Virgil van Dijk previously speaking about the impact of his absence.
Gullit hopes the Manchester United defender can put his latest injury problems behind him and return to playing regularly.
“I feel sorry for him and I hope he can have his revenge,” Gullit said.
“I really hope that all the pain he has experienced can disappear, so that he can change things and still have a positive career.”
De Ligt’s career has already taken him from Ajax to Juventus, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, while he has also established himself as a senior Netherlands international.
His current absence has prevented him from contributing on the pitch, but Gullit’s comments underline the continued support for the defender within Dutch football.
The former Netherlands captain believes De Ligt still has time to overcome his latest setback and build another successful period of his career once he is able to return.