WHY LEAVE? THE REAL REASON DíAZ CHOSE BAYERN OVER STAYING AT THE PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Luis Díaz is thriving at Bayern! Discover the stats behind his 19 goals and why he called leaving Liverpool an "easy decision."
When Luis Díaz left Liverpool for Bayern Munich right after lifting the Premier League trophy with Arne Slot’s team, plenty of people questioned if he was really worth the €70 million Bayern paid. That’s a lot of money, even for a club like Bayern.
Back when Liverpool snatched him from FC Porto in January 2022, Jürgen Klopp paid 40 million euros for him. Díaz didn’t disappoint. Across 148 games, he racked up 41 goals and 23 assists. He helped bring home a Premier League title, two EFL Cups, a Community Shield, and the FA Cup. No wonder his price shot up.
Now, look at him in Germany. Díaz has hit the ground running in his first Bundesliga season. He’s already got 19 goals and 15 assists in just 32 matches, and his connection up front with Harry Kane and Michael Olise has turned Bayern’s attack into a real threat.
In a recent chat with Sky Sport, Díaz looked back on his decision to swap Liverpool for Bayern last summer. For him, it was an easy call. “When FC Bayern approached me, I knew from the very first moment that I wanted to make this move. It filled me with pride because I’d known the club for a long time and knew what to expect there. It was a good decision – a decision for an incredible team. And when you arrive somewhere new, you naturally want to give your best and feel comfortable where you are,” he said.
Díaz’s journey is pretty wild. From the streets of Barrancas as a kid, to breaking through at Porto, to lighting up the Premier League at Liverpool, he’s never struggled to adapt. It doesn't matter what country or league; he just finds a way. Watch him with the ball at his feet: he’s quick, creative, and bursting with confidence. He’s enjoying himself, and you can see it every time he plays.
“Being happy is the most important thing for a player and his family. It was exactly the right decision to come here. I knew that I would be joining an incredibly great group of footballers and a club with excellent infrastructure and a fantastic training ground. I did not doubt that. The most difficult thing for my family and me was, and still is, certainly the language… but I knew that I would fit in very well here, that I would contribute to the team’s success – just as I had done before in Liverpool. So FC Bayern placed their trust in me, and I’m trying to repay that trust on the pitch,” he said.
So far, Díaz has more than justified Bayern’s faith. He’s not slowing down, either.
MATTHAUS WARNS KOMPANY: DO NOT CHANGE ATTACKING STYLE DESPITE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT
Bayern have secured the Bundesliga! Read why Matthaus wants more "spectacular football" despite the 6-5 aggregate loss to PSG.
Lothar Matthaus has called on Vincent Kompany to continue with his attacking style, despite Bayern Munich's exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The German legend feels Bayern’s entertaining approach shouldn’t be altered even though their defence showed vulnerabilities during the 6-5 aggregate loss in the semi-finals.
After conceding six goals over two legs, Bayern’s Champions League run came to an end. While the defeat exposed defensive issues, it also highlighted the offensive strategy Kompany has brought to the team. These defensive struggles aren’t limited to Europe either; high-scoring Bundesliga matches, like the 4-3 win over Mainz and the 3-3 draw with Heidenheim, have revealed a back line that’s still trying to find the right balance between taking risks and maintaining solidity.
Matthaus, who once captained Bayern, stresses that the club should stick with Kompany’s attacking mindset, even if it leaves them open at the back. He pointed out, “With such an attacking style of play, you can't defend everything, of course. Yes, they've conceded quite a few goals, but they’re still having a successful season and are close to winning the double. They’ve even made it to the Champions League semi-finals.”
The return of excitement at the Allianz Arena was clear, especially during the second leg when Ousmane Dembele’s early goal stunned the crowd. Although Harry Kane’s late equaliser wasn’t enough to turn the tie around, Matthaus sees positives in the bigger picture. He believes Bayern has brought back the thrill and flair fans expect.
“While Bayern didn’t play their best in the semi-final second leg against PSG, they have entertained throughout the year. I look forward to their matches because they’re usually packed with goals. Bayern stands for spectacular football, and this season has been no different. I wouldn’t move away from that style,” Matthaus shared.
With the focus shifting back to domestic competitions, Bayern have already secured the Bundesliga championship. They still have two league games left against Wolfsburg and Koln before preparing for the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart on May 23.
BAYERN MUNICH RULE OUT MARCUS RASHFORD MOVE REGARDLESS OF ANTHONY GORDON OUTCOME
Marcus Rashford is not a target for Bayern Munich this summer, as the club focuses entirely on signing Gordon from Newcastle.
Bayern Munich aren’t considering a move for Marcus Rashford this summer, no matter what happens with Anthony Gordon. That’s according to a German reporter who’s close to the story.
Right now, Rashford is wrapping up his loan at Barcelona. He’s set to return to Manchester United at the end of the season. Barcelona have an option to make the deal permanent for €30 million (£26 million) in the summer. Both Rashford and Barcelona want him to stay, but here’s the catch: the club doesn’t want to pay the full €30 million.
Barcelona would rather keep Rashford on loan for another year or get him for a lower fee. Manchester United’s not having it. They want the full price, so Barcelona are starting to look at other players.
Rashford hasn’t made a secret of where he wants to be. Earlier in the season, he told Sport, one of the local Barcelona papers, about how much he wants to stay, saying, “Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca. It’s the ultimate goal.” He talked about the pressure and expectations at the club, saying they keep him motivated and that he feels like he’s in the perfect environment to grow and win trophies. For now, though, it’s all up in the air until next summer.
Last year, Bayern Munich actually showed some interest in Rashford before he went to Barcelona. But now, they’re focused on signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United for the left wing. The problem is, Gordon’s interested, but Newcastle’s price is ridiculous, reportedly around £80 million (€92.6 million). That’s much higher than what Bayern’s willing to pay. They’re thinking closer to £60 million (€69.4 million), and maybe with add-ons or an instalment plan. If Newcastle won’t budge, it probably isn’t happening.
Christian Falk, a trusted journalist from Bild, says Bayern aren’t considering Rashford as a backup if they can’t land Gordon. Bayern’s got a short list of players for the left wing, and Rashford isn’t on it. Gordon’s their main focus, but even if that deal falls through, Rashford’s not the next in line.
So at this stage, Bayern and Rashford won’t be coming together this summer, even if Gordon stays at Newcastle. That’s just not in the plans.
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