Bayern have ‘internal regret’ selling £34.2m superstar; he’s become a ‘phenomenal’ player

You win some and you lose some at FC Bayern. The Bundesliga giants perhaps haven’t “lost” more in recent memory than following their decision to offload Ryan Gravenberch in 2023.

Despite a mixed first campaign with Liverpool in 2023/24, the arrival of Arne Slot has seen the Dutch midfielder transformed into a Premier League-winning superstar.

The ‘phenomenal’ ex-Ajax prodigy is the head coach’s third-most-relied-upon player in the current campaign.

* Stats courtesy of Transfermarkt

Bayern regret selling Ryan Gravenberch

€40m [£34.2m] is a figure that will haunt decision-makers at Säbener Straße for the foreseeable future.

Despite being overlooked by Vincent Kompany’s predecessor, Thomas Tuchel, Gravenberch has since been reinvented as a world-class holding midfielder at Anfield.

Given how João Palhina ultimately hasn’t worked out in Munich, this has to be viewed as a disastrous set of business. In fact, we may as well add the Portuguese star’s €51m [£43.2m] fee to the “haunting” total.

“Of course, there is internal regret over Ryan Gravenberch’s exit from FC Bayern. The club knew what he was capable of, but he needed playing time (which he’s been given at Liverpool) that he was never going to get at Bayern Munich,” Christian Falk exclusively informed CF Bayern Insider.

“Thomas Tuchel saw Gravenberch playing further up the pitch, perhaps as a No.10 or an offensive No.8. But this season has proven that the Dutchman is more than capable of playing a more defensively-minded midfield role. If Tuchel had seen this, Bayern wouldn’t have spent €51m [£43.2m] on João Palhina. That still hurts a lot.

“Credit to Marco Neppe and Hasan Salihamidžić, who brought him in, but you still need a coach who trusts and counts on the player. Ultimately, if a player can perform like this at Liverpool, then it’s clear – a mistake was made.”

Gravenberch has given Liverpool extra protection

The greatest piece of praise commentators can give Ryan Gravenberch is that he’s probably eliminated the need for a new No.6.

Liverpool had been particularly keen on signing Martin Zubimendi in the 2024 summer window. This followed a failed attempt the prior year to sign now Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo.

Statistical analysis of the Premier League duo, however, now makes for intriguing reading.

* Stats courtesy of Premier League

Aleksandar Pavlović can be the solution

Fortunately for Bayern, the club won’t need to make a push in the market for a new holding midfielder.

Academy graduate Aleksandar Pavlović looks set to be the solution for Vincent Kompany’s men moving forward.

Indeed, when fit, the 21-year-old has been relied upon by the Belgian head coach, featuring regularly alongside Joshua Kimmich.

There’ll still be regret over how Ryan Gravenberch’s situation was handled. But the error may very well have created an opportunity for Pavlović, a homegrown talent, to flourish in the middle of the park.

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