Matthijs de Ligt, the Manchester United defender, made headlines this summer with his £43 million transfer from Bayern Munich to Manchester United. This move has sparked a variety of reactions within the football community, ranging from surprise and disappointment among Bayern fans to subtle digs from former teammates.
The decision to let De Ligt leave was met with astonishment by many. The Netherlands international had been a key player for Bayern Munich during the 2022/23 season, earning him the title of "world-class defender" in a petition signed by 70,000 fans attempting to block his transfer. Despite their efforts and high praise for De Ligt's performance on the field, their plea fell on deaf ears as he inked a five-year deal with Manchester United.
De Ligt’s switch saw him reunite with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford after their successful spell together at Ajax. His teammate Noussair Mazraoui also joined him in making the move from Germany to England.
Mixed feelings among former teammates
While many were surprised or disappointed by De Ligt’s departure, it seems that some of his former teammates are not missing him too much. Dayot Upamecano has been vocal about his thriving partnership with Kim Min-jae at Bayern Munich's backline since De Light’s departure.
Bayern Munich defender, Dayot Upamecano, said:
"It's a great fit with him. He also has more self-confidence [now]. Like myself, he's received a lot of criticism. But that's football. We have to keep our heads up and always give it our all."
Since joining Manchester United, De Ligt has made 10 appearances across all competitions but hasn't had an entirely smooth transition. He helped guide United back into winning ways against in the Brentford match despite experiencing some struggles adapting and suffering a serious head injury during play which forced him off pitch twice.
Behind-the-scenes reasons for transfer
Last month Max Eberl, Bayern Munich sporting director, shed some light on the reasons behind De Ligt's transfer. He explained that the current centre-back pairing of Upamecano and Min-jae are better suited to Vincent Kompany's style of play, suggesting a tactical reason for letting De Ligt go.
Max Eberl, Bayern Munich Sporting Director, said:
“Nevertheless, I had to make this decision because we also had to sell players. We felt more comfortable with [Dayot] Upamecano and Kim [Min-jae] because they can defend higher up the pitch. And then an offer came in for De Ligt.”
The transfer of Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich to Manchester United has been a significant event in this summer’s football landscape. While his departure was met with resistance from fans and mixed feelings among teammates, it seems that strategic considerations played a key role in this decision. As De Ligt continues his journey at Manchester United, only time will tell how this move will impact both clubs' fortunes.
