"If you go to Bayern, you will love it": Ex-FCB coach convinced de Ligt of change
Created: 07/21/2022, 10:06 am
By: Marius Epp
He's here!
Matthijs de Ligt was officially presented at FC Bayern.
Why did he choose Munich?
Louis van Gaal played a crucial role.
Munich – Even if there was a small glitch in his presentation: FC Bayern fans cheer for newcomer Matthijs de Ligt.
The transfer has been official since Tuesday evening, the Dutchman has signed a five-year contract (all information about the transfer can be found here).
Matthijs de Ligt |
Born: August 12, 1999 (age 22 years), Leiderdorp, The Netherlands |
Height: 1.89 m |
Partner: Annekee Molenaar |
Market value: 70 million euros |
In his first interview as a Bayern player
the 22-year-old spoke to the
picture
about the reasons for his move to the Isar.
Not insignificant were his compatriots with a Bavarian past.
"Dutch ex-Bayern players like Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel always spoke highly of this club to me.
Everyone assured me what an incredible club Bayern is,” reveals de Ligt.
Matthijs de Ligt: A conversation with Louis van Gaal convinced him of FC Bayern
He also feels "connected to the German mentality".
In the coming months he wants to show the club his willingness to work hard and with discipline.
Apparently, a conversation with the former Bayern coach Louis van Gaal, whose influence on the game philosophy at the record champions can still be felt today, had a convincing effect.
Matthijs de Ligt, the next transfer cracker made by Hasan Salihamidzic.
© Mladen Lackovic/dpa
“I spoke to Louis van Gaal about my future back in the summer.
Of course I asked him about FC Bayern.
He only found good words about this club, praised the philosophy and told me: If you go to Bayern, you will love it," says the central defender.
Hasan Salihamidzic stayed with De Ligt for years
So it's no wonder why de Ligt only wanted to go to Bayern from the start.
The Bayern delegation led by sports director Hasan Salihamidzic convinced him early on, after that it was all about the fee.
De Ligt wanted to move from Ajax Amsterdam to Munich in 2019, but Juventus Turin offered more.
Who earns how much?
Salary table of FC Bayern Munich
View photo gallery
"Since then there have actually been repeated conversations between Mino (adviser Raiola, who recently passed away) and Hasan, who kept asking about me.
That's how the relationship between Bayern and me was always there.” So the Bosnian's persistence paid off.
De Ligt sees another reason for the change in the way Bayern play.
"FC Bayern's attacking style of play definitely suits me and was actually a reason for my decision," he says.
Kahn, Nagelsmann, Kimmich - everyone raves about the new defender.
The 22-year-old should not underestimate the high expectations.
(epp)
