Matthijs de Ligt is FC Bayern’s latest signing. The central defender comes from Juventus Turin in the Bundesliga. The Dutchman probably had other change options. Nevertheless, only Munich came into question for the designated defense chief.
FC Bayern was already dealing with Matthijs de Ligt in 2019, but at that time the defensive specialist was still drawn from Ajax Amsterdam to Juventus Turin. Now it worked for the German record champions at the second attempt, the 22-year-old was given a contract until 2027.
“Three years ago there were actually a lot of talks, also with other clubs,” said de Ligt in “picture“-Interview back again: “In the end I went to Juventus and I am grateful that I made this step at this point. But since then there have actually been repeated conversations between Mino (adviser Raiola, died in April 2022, editor’s note) and Hasan, who kept asking about me. That’s how the relationship between Bayern and me was always there.”
However, Chelsea are also said to have been interested in signing the Dutch international this summer. But FC Bayern received the promise.
Louis van Gaal found good words about FC Bayern
“I was very impressed that the entire Bayern management gave me the feeling from the start that the club really wanted me,” said de Ligt, explaining his decision: “Everything was just right. Julian Nagelsmann is also a coach who has shown that he is good at developing young players. And I still see myself as a young player who wants to improve. Football is at the forefront of my decision.”
In the summer, de Ligt spoke to Bondscoach and ex-Bayern coach Louis van Gaal about his sporting future. “He only found good words about this club, praised the philosophy and told me: If you go to Bayern, you will love it,” revealed the central defender about his exchange with the 70-year-old.