Ryan Gravenberch’s struggles at Bayern Munich sparked fears he is likely to be a misplaced expertise – nevertheless it made him the participant he’s immediately.
The Dutch midfielder has lived as much as the ‘new Frank Rijkaard’ label that was as soon as a burden upon him after flourishing at Liverpool.
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The 23-year-old has been the Premier League champions’ greatest participant this season, having been dubbed the perfect No.6 within the top-flight.
Former Liverpool star Danny Murphy has gone one step additional by claiming Gravenberch is the standout all-around midfielder.
It marks a exceptional turnaround for the latter, who noticed his fortunes utterly reworked by Arne Slot’s arrival at Anfield in 2024.
Gravenberch’s Bayern Munich struggles
Gravenberch was hailed as ‘one of many largest abilities in Europe’ by Bayern’s former sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic two years prior.
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The Netherlands worldwide had simply accomplished a £21million transfer from Ajax. however made simply six begins for the Bavarians.
Regardless of this, European soccer broadcaster Andy Brassell claimed Gravenberch had turn out to be a greater participant than he had been at Ajax.
He solely informed talkSPORT.com: “The rationale that Gravenberch ended up at Bayern was, it wasn’t a lot of a deliberate signing.
“He had a yr left on his Ajax contract. And so they simply thought, ‘Oh, yeah, we may need a younger midfield participant and there is a chance.’
“It by no means felt like they’d a plan for him in any respect. Now, keep in mind that Bayern are fairly chaotic on the time.
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“They’re nonetheless figuring out at the moment whether or not they need their central midfield to be [Joshua] Kimmich and [Leon] Goretzka, who’re very, very troublesome to get previous. There is not any doubt about that. And so they have been having doubts over that and considering they wanted extra of a devoted six.
“Kimmich, due to his wing-backish leanings, although he does not take pleasure in taking part in proper again, lends himself to a barely freer position than that. And he is acquired attacking attributes that you just wish to take advantage of.
“That form of leads them to this long-term pursuit of Joao Palhinha, who does not actually work out, however is the participant they need and the participant they find yourself ultimately getting.
“Now, with Gravenberch, as a result of they get him as a chance somewhat than a deliberate signing, he is an afterthought.
“I do not assume they actually put that a lot into his improvement. However we talked earlier than about Hugo Ekitike and the way a lot he discovered from an unfavourable scenario at PSG – it is form of the identical with Gravenberch at Bayern.
“He goes there and he shortly realises that it may be onerous for me to get a sport. There’s probably not a job right here. And he is nonetheless very younger.
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“He is nonetheless growing as a participant. At that time, it appears to be like like Gravenberch goes to be extra of an attacking midfielder.
“On condition that Bayern play with wingers quite a bit as effectively, I believe there is a doubt whether or not he matches that system.
“You take a look at the actual fact they have the 2 huge guys, as we mentioned, nonetheless ruling the roost, and it is fairly troublesome to suit him in,
“I believe, particularly when he was popping out of a place the place he wasn’t certainly one of Ajax’s perfect gamers. He is participant, however actually a participant the place it felt like Bayern was a shock. It felt prefer it was a little bit of a leap for him. And so it proved in the long run.”
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How a lot did Liverpool pay for Gravenberch?
He was rescued by Liverpool on deadline day 2023 for £34m, however accomplished only one full 90 minutes beneath Jurgen Klopp.
Slot’s subsequent failure to signal now-Arsenal star Martin Zubimendi noticed him flip to Gravenberch to play the position, and the remaining is historical past.
Gravenberch’s success as a holding midfielder has reportedly induced a wave of ‘remorse’ to brush over his outdated membership, Bayern Munich.
However Brassell argued that the Bundesliga champions nonetheless acquired an amazing deal and deserve credit score for his or her half in his improvement.
“The way in which he is been capable of adapt at Liverpool firstly says that Bayern have achieved some type of respectable job with him, even when it wasn’t sufficient to get them into their first group,” he informed talkSPORT.
“It is developed him in a means. He is a significantly better participant than he was at Ajax by the point he arrived at Liverpool, merely by way of taking part in just a few video games and coaching with Bayern the entire time.
“Clearly, there’s monumental expertise on their teaching employees, regardless of the specific period that they are in. There are senior gamers who you may be taught from.
“You consider Kimmich himself, Goretzka, Thomas Müller, so many different gamers you may be taught off.
“Actually, Bayern get a very whole lot out of it as a result of they promote Gravenberch for 2 and a half instances what they purchased him for.
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“So actually, they acquired an OK deal out of it to select up a participant, not fairly on a whim, however actually not as a part of a long-term challenge. As extra of a, let’s purchase this man and see if we are able to mould him into one thing.
“It seems he finds it fairly troublesome to slot in the group, and so they discover it fairly troublesome to suit him within the group.
“Then to show him into two and a half instances what you spent on him once you discovered he isn’t what you are in search of.
“That feels fairly good to me.”
