Ryan Gravenberch has proven to be an almighty success at Liverpool after joining from Bayern Munich in 2023.
There were some reservations when Jurgen Klopp pushed through a move for the Dutchman on summer transfer deadline day, with fans fully aware that he had been deemed surplus to requirements at Bayern.
Nevertheless, Gravenberch has made the German record champions out to be fools during his almost three years with Liverpool, starring in last year’s Premier League triumph and winning the Young Player of the Year award.
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FA Cup trophy is pictured on display ahead of the fourth round clash between Macclesfield Town and Brentford (Credit: Getty Images/James Gill - Danehouse). The Premier League trophy pictured at Anfield before Liverpool's final match of the season against Crystal Palace at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Julian Finney).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/James Gill/Danehouse/Julian Finney
His development has led to confusion over why Gravenberch could not make it work with Bayern, with one of his managers during the spell, Julian Nagelsmann, now claiming that it was simply a case of the 23-year-old being pushed down the pecking order.
Gravenberch could not get rhythm at Bayern
According to Nagelsmann, the presence of other midfielders ahead of Gravenberch meant that he could not give him the optimal conditions to shine at the Allianz Arena.
“The situation was very complicated for him after his transfer from Ajax,” the Germany manager said to Kicker via Get German Football News.
“Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich were ahead of him, and I had also brought in Aleksandar Pavlovic.”
Liverpool's Dutch midfielder #38 Ryan Gravenberch celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield.
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
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“Ryan’s job was to step on the gas in the last 20 minutes, but his player profile doesn’t fit that. Ryan is a player who needs rhythm throughout the game.”
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“Now he’s a world class player at Liverpool thanks to regular playing time.”
Whatever Nagelsmann’s reasoning, it is fair to say that he simply squandered a really top talent, forcing him to look elsewhere.
With Goretzka set to leave on a free this summer and Kimmich now the wrong side of 30, Gravenberch should have been the man to secure Bayern’s midfield future for years to come. Instead, Nagelsmann’s mistakes led him to Liverpool, where despite a rocky season, he continues to be one of the main men.
Bayern’s loss – and it was a big one – was certainly Liverpool’s gain.
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