Ryan Gravenberch’s father has spoken about the midfielder’s time at Bayern Munich.
The 23-year-old midfielder was outstanding for Liverpool in 2024-25 and helped the Reds win in the Premier League.
The former Bayern Munich midfielder took his game to a whole new level under Arne Slot as he established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Gravenberch’s journey from Bayern Munich to Liverpool
Ryan Gravenberch waves an arm in the air to celebrate in front of Liverpool fans.
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The Dutch international joined Bayern from Ajax in the summer of 2022, but his dream move turned into a nightmare under Julian Nagelsmann.
Gravenberch’s father believes his son was close to depression before he was transferred to Liverpool two years ago.
While Gravenberch won the Bundesliga title with Bayern, his contribution to the side was minimal.
Gravenberch said, as quoted by The Mirror: “I was going crazy in my head. I was lucky my parents had moved to Munich for me. I don’t know what would have happened if I had been out there just on my own…it was really tough mentally.
“I was happy we were champions, but my contribution was small. I know we stood there as champions but I did not feel like a champion at all. It was a totally different feeling from all the other times I won trophies.
“Under Nagelsmann, I would go three matches in a row spending 90 minutes watching my team. That is when I started to go crazy in my head. In the winter I was totally done with it. During the last two months of the season under (Thomas) Tuchel, I got more minutes than in the entire period before.”
Gravenberch’s father, also called Ryan, believes his son would have been struggling with depression if he had been alone in Munich.
He said: “I think if we had not been there with him, he would have landed in a depression.
“The whole Bayern Munich adventure never worked out like he expected. He was working really hard, but he was never given a chance to shine.
“At that time, we could not dream that he would get a transfer to Liverpool and that Arne Slot would become his coach. When I look at what has happened to him with Slot and Liverpool I have to say in all honesty that he has gone from hell to heaven!”
Bayern’s loss is Liverpool’s gain
After seeing the rise of Gravenberch at Liverpool, Bayern internally feel that they have made a mistake by letting him go.
You win some, you lose some. Not every transfer will work in your favour, and Gravenberch was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Bayern maintained their good relationship with Liverpool this summer after signing Luis Diaz.
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