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Bayern Munich made a big mistake by selling Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United this summer, believes club legend Lothar Matthaus, who says some of his former teammates are still ‘shaking their heads’ over the decision.
The 25-year-old completed the switch to Old Trafford just before the start of the Premier League season in a deal worth an initial £38m.
It was a double signing for the Red Devils from Bayern, with Noussair Mazraoui also making the move to Manchester as Erik ten Hag strengthens his back line.
Matthaus feels that Bayern have significantly weakened theirs by letting De Ligt go, though, disappointed that the German giants have lost a leader, just as they did three years ago when David Alaba left for Real Madrid.
Bayern got their first Bundesliga campaign under Vincent Kompany off to a winning start on Sunday, although it ended up being a come-from-behind 3-2 victory at Wolfsburg and the Bayern and Germany legend sees the defence as troublingly creaky.
‘The defence is and remains Bayern’s Achilles heel,’ Matthaus told Sky Germany. ‘Matthijs de Ligt was sold, even though he was the most stable defender over the past two years. He was the leader of the backline.
‘Now Bayern are again looking for a successor to David Alaba. For me, it’s pathetic that this leader is missing. After all, we are talking about FC Bayern. All the centre backs currently in the Bayern squad have to be clear with themselves first.
‘If De Ligt had not been sold, I would not have worries at FC Bayern now. But my opinion about him is probably different to the people in charge. It’s a decision that has to be accepted. But many – including within the team – are just shaking their heads. Because the players also know that their defence is shaky. And then the best defender for many is sold.’
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl explained the decision to let De Ligt go as a move to bring in a slightly different profile of defender.
‘We have to make decisions where we feel we can have the greatest possible success. We made decisions together with Vincent Kompany,’ Eberl told reporters.
‘Matthijs de Ligt has delivered very consistent performances. We wanted an additional left-footer, which is why we brought in Hiroki Ito.
‘That’s squad planning, then we spend money, then you as a club have to earn money too. We spoke to the players very transparently and then made decisions and that’s how we got the squad we have now.’
De Ligt is yet to start for Manchester United, coming off the bench in the Premier League clashes with Fulham and Brighton so far this season.
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