Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann signed now Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch when he was in charge of Bayern Munich
MUNICH, GERMANY - OCTOBER 04:Julian Nagelsmann, head coach of FC Bayern München talks to his player Ryan Gravenberch during the UEFA Champions League group C match between FC Bayern München and Viktoria Plzen at Allianz Arena on October 04, 2022 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Julian Nagelsmann talks to Ryan Gravenberch during their time together at Bayern Munich(Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images.)
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Julian Nagelsmann has tried to explain why Liverpool midfielder's Ryan Gravenberch time at Bayern Munich did not work out. The current Germany manager signed the Netherlands international from Ajax in the summer of 2022 when he was in charge of the Bundesliga giants.
Despite being regarded as one of the best young midfielders in the world, Gravenberch found minutes hard to come by in Munich, firstly under Nagelsmann and then under his replacement, current England boss Thomas Tuchel.
And after just one season and three starts in the German top flight, the Dutchman moved to Merseyside after agreeing a £34.3m transfer. What's happened since, makes that look a bargain.
True, it took time for Gravenberch to settle at Liverpool, while his form at times this season has dipped like so many of his team-mates, but for large parts of the 2024-25 campaign, when Arne Slot built on the foundations laid by Jurgen Klopp, he was superb.
Helping the Reds win the Premier League for the first time in front of supporters since 1990, the now 23-year-old was picked in the PFA Team of the Year and was named the Premier League Young Player of the Season.
So why were Bayern were not able to harness Gravenberch's talents? Speaking to Kicker, Nagelsmann said: “You have to pay extremely close attention to how a player handles being 15th or 16th in our squad, even though he's considered a top-six player at his club, someone who always plays.
"Can a player who's a regular starter at his club grow into that kind of role with us, or not? I can certainly imagine that there will be players who don't see themselves as being 15th or 16th in the squad. They might not say so publicly, but they'll say it in private conversations.
“Ultimately, every player has to make a genuine commitment. But then, in March, they also have to show that they stand by their word and put the team first. I know from experience that not everyone can do that
“Let me give you an example from my time at Bayern Munich. Ryan Gravenberch is a top-class player, he already was at Bayern, but the situation was very complicated for him after his transfer from Ajax.
“Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich were ahead of him in the pecking order, and I had also promoted Aleksandar Pavlovic. Ryan's task was to step up his game in the last 20 minutes, but that's not his style of play.
“Ryan is a player who needs consistent rhythm throughout the match. And then there are players you can bring on for 20 minutes, either to maintain a result or to desperately score a goal. They can give their all and leave everything on the pitch in those 20 minutes."
Gravenberch was in and out of the Liverpool side on his first season on Merseyside, under Klopp, but thrived in the new deep-lying position given to him by Slot during his fellow Dutchmen's debut campaign at the club.
The Reds return to Premier League action tonight (Tuesday) when they head to basement Wolves (8.15pm).
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