Sadio Mané, Noussair Mazraoui, Ryan Gravenberch, Mathys Tel, Matthijs de Ligt - FC Bayern's shopping list this summer is filled with prominent names. Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic, who largely arranged the deals, was praised enthusiastically after the criticism in recent months. With the additions, so the tenor from the football world, the record champions are manifesting their supremacy in the Bundesliga. But now there are first doubters about the transfer offensive of the record champions, especially the Matthijs de Ligt personnel is discussed.
"The big question will be whether De Ligt is able to lead the defense," said former international Dietmar Hamann on "Sky". He doesn't know whether the Dutchman at the age of 22 is already capable of doing this, especially since he was at a club that was a champions league winner two years ago. “He may have two world champions alongside him in Pavard and Hernandez. That all sounds wonderful. It remains to be seen whether this can then be implemented in practice,” added the 48-year-old TV expert.
At Ajax Amsterdam, de Ligt would have shown the necessary leadership qualities. "He didn't make it in Turin. Of course it was a bigger club, bigger competition and he had very experienced players alongside him," said Hamann. De Ligt joined Juventus in 2019 and had Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini alongside him during his time. That's why, according to Hamann, he "still owes proof that he can defend like Bayern Munich's. I would be a bit reserved and careful there.”
Sandro Wagner is also critical of de Ligt's transfer, but for a different reason. "Does it make sense to get de Ligt for 70 million if you had Niki Süle and maybe could have kept him?" asked the ex-Bayern professional at a DAZN appointment in Munich. 67 million euros were due for de Ligt, plus ten million in possible bonus numbers. Niklas Süle joined Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer.
The TV expert can gain more from the BVB transfer period anyway. The Bayern pursuer made “sensational transfers” during this summer break. "I think Dortmund is able to pose a threat to Bayern," said Wagner. BVB spent more than 80 million euros on newcomers and brought in Sebastian Haller, Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck, Karim Adeyemi and Salih Özcan, among others. Haller is currently out with a tumor.
"With Haller I would even see them on an equal footing with Bayern if everything goes well. In my opinion, Schlotterbeck, Hummels and Süle form the best central defender trio or duo in the Bundesliga, ahead of de Ligt, Upamecano and Hernández for me – especially when it comes to opening the game,” explained the 34-year-old.
Hamann even goes further and sees Borussia Dortmund as the next German champion. "I've guessed Dortmund as champions for the past year or two. I'll try again," he said. Bayern recently won ten championships in a row.
