Nagelsmann admits ‘complicated’ Bayern situation for ‘top-class’ Liverpool star | OneFootball

Ryan Gravenberch has established himself as a key player at Liverpool under Arne Slot. 

Jurgen Klopp signed the Dutch midfielder from Bayern Munich during his final season at Liverpool, after he failed to make an impact at the German club.

Germany national team boss Julian Nagelsmann has hailed Gravenberch as a “top-class” player and explained why he failed at Bayern.

The rise of Ryan Gravenberch at Liverpool

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

In his first season at Liverpool, Gravenberch made 38 appearances in all competitions, although he was mostly used as a substitute.

After Liverpool failed to sign Martin Zubimendi, Slot transformed him into a defensive holding midfielder, and since then, he has been a revelation.

The 23-year-old has also been in outstanding form this season, making 26 Premier League starts while scoring four goals and providing three assists.

Gravenberch is now one of the first names on Slot’s team sheet, and Nagelsmann has rightly hailed him as a “top-class” player.

Julian Nagelsmann explains why Gravenberch struggled at Bayern Munich

Gravenberch joined Bayern from Ajax in the summer of 2022, but he failed to make an impact at the German club under Nagelsmann.

At that time, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich were ahead of him in the pecking order, while Bayern also made an effort to promote homegrown boy, Aleksandar Pavlovic.

The German boss noted that Gravenberch is not the type of player who can make an impact in the last 20 minutes; he is someone who needs a consistent rhythm through the match. Unfortunately for him, Bayern could not provide him with that opportunity.

Nagelsmann said to Kicker, as shared by@iMiaSanMia:

“Let me give you an example from my time at Bayern Munich. Ryan Gravenberch is a top-class player, he already was at Bayern, but the situation was very complicated for him after his transfer from Ajax. Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich were ahead of him in the pecking order, and I had also promoted Aleksandar Pavlović. Ryan’s task was to step up his game in the last 20 minutes, but that’s not his style of play. Ryan is a player who needs consistent rhythm throughout the match. And then there are players you can bring on for 20 minutes, either to maintain a result or to desperately score a goal. They can give their all and leave everything on the pitch in those 20 minutes.” 

Bayern have apparently regretted the decision to sell Gravenberch after seeing him doing so well for Liverpool.