When Luis Díaz married his long-term accomplice, Gera Ponce, in a lavish ceremony in his native Colombia in June, the marriage playlist featured a shock inclusion.
Video footage from the reception confirmed Díaz singing and dancing alongside to “Bella Ciao,” a music that Liverpool followers reworked in his honor following his arrival from FC Porto in January 2022. Lyrics charting Díaz’s journey from the small Colombian city of Barrancas to the heights of the Premier League could possibly be heard ringing out in stadiums throughout Europe because the ahead established himself as an integral a part of the Reds’ success underneath each Jürgen Klopp and Arne Slot.
That Díaz selected to include the music into his massive day factors to the particular relationship the participant cast with supporters throughout his 3½ years at Liverpool; a relationship that went from power to power final season because the 28-year-old’s aptitude and tenacity helped the membership to win a record-tying twentieth league title.
With that in thoughts, it is going to have been a shock to many to see the winger signal with Bayern Munich in a deal price €75 million on Wednesday. Much more stunning is the truth that it was Díaz who pushed for the transfer, with a supply telling ESPN the participant was “decided” to go away Anfield this summer time.
That Bayern have added one other winger to their attacking corps won’t come as a lot of a shock for a membership identified for its explosive huge gamers, however that it’s Díaz, and never a youthful, brighter expertise, is. So what’s behind Díaz’s need for a recent problem? And are the Bundesliga champions getting a difference-maker in what’s their star signing this summer time?
Liverpool exit a 12 months within the making
Díaz loved a rare begin to his Liverpool profession. The ahead was one thing of a shock addition to Klopp’s squad, with Liverpool shifting up their 2022 summer time switch plans after Tottenham Hotspur tried to signal the participant earlier that January.
Their resolution to hijack Spurs’ deal rapidly paid dividends as Díaz helped the membership to win a home cup double and attain the ultimate of the UEFA Champions League, the place it narrowly misplaced to Actual Madrid. Rapidly establishing a repute for his devastating tempo and trickery on the left wing, Díaz grew to become a agency fan favourite.
However after sustaining a severe knee damage in October 2022, the ahead was compelled to spend seven months on the sidelines and, upon his return, struggled to recapture his blistering kind. Díaz’s struggles have been compounded by issues off the pitch in October 2023 when his father, Luis Manuel “Mane” Díaz, was held hostage for nearly two weeks by the Nationwide Liberation Military in Colombia.
Sources informed ESPN that, by the summer time of 2024, Díaz was keen to go away Merseyside. He appreciated the thought of a transfer to LaLiga, and his father informed Win Sports activities it was his “dream” to play for Barcelona.
For some time, it regarded as if Liverpool have been making ready for his exit. Sources informed ESPN the membership received so far as agreeing to a £75 million deal in precept to signal left winger Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United final July, however the deal finally collapsed after Newcastle eased their PSR issues by means of the transfers of Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson to Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, respectively.
With no appropriate replacements accessible, Liverpool fought to maintain Díaz at Anfield, and it was a choice that was rapidly vindicated. The Colombia worldwide delivered his most efficient season in a purple shirt final season, scoring 17 objectives in all competitions and enjoying the second-most Premier League minutes of any Liverpool ahead (behind solely Mohamed Salah) as Slot’s aspect romped to the title.
Regardless of having performed such a key position in Liverpool’s triumph, it was all the time possible this summer time can be decisive in Díaz’ future. With solely two years left on his current contract, the Anfield hierarchy had an enormous resolution to make.
For years, there was debate over the ahead’s wage packet, with some stories suggesting he was pocketing a weekly wage of £55,000 — a comparatively nominal quantity for an elite participant. Whereas a supply informed ESPN this determine is wrong, suggesting that the quantity is round £140,000 per week, it is clear there was a big discrepancy between the participant’s calls for and the wage Liverpool have been prepared to supply a participant who will flip 29 in January.
Sources informed ESPN that two makes an attempt to agree a contract extension failed and, whereas Liverpool initially got here into the summer time unwilling to half with their No. 7, there was an growing inevitability to his departure. The Reds rebuffed an early advance from Barcelona and rejected Bayern’s opening provide of €67.5 million.
However when the German membership returned to the negotiating desk with an improved bid, Liverpool reluctantly determined to simply accept, sensing a chance to make revenue on a participant who might be nearing the tip of his peak. His departure will assist stability a few of Liverpool’s spending this summer time, with the Premier League champions having spent round £290 million on Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Hugo Ekitike.
There may be additionally a way that the extra funds — coupled with any additional income generated by the possible departures of fellow forwards Darwin Núñez and Federico Chiesa — might assist Liverpool finance a deal for long-term striker goal Alexander Isak, though Newcastle would first have to point a willingness to do a deal for the Sweden worldwide this summer time. — Beth Lindop
Díaz poses important danger for Bayern
Irrespective of how Bayern Munich attempt to spin this signing within the coming days, Díaz was actually not their first selection. After failing to safe Wirtz, their No. 1 switch goal, Bayern needed to change course and take a look at alternate options, with the likes of Nico Williams, Rafael Leão and Bradley Barcola on the high of the listing.
Because it grew to become clear that not one of the three have been accessible or prepared to maneuver to Munich, Bayern started searching for alternate options to their alternate options. They ultimately settled on Díaz, who appeared fairly flattered by the curiosity from the Bundesliga champions and able to transfer on from Anfield.
Understanding that few choices have been left, Bayern didn’t go away the negotiating desk after their opening provide was rejected by the Premier League champions. As a substitute, they submitted an improved bid whereas hoping that Díaz would specific to Liverpool’s decision-makers his need to go away, which he did.
After the departures of Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané and Mathys Tel in current weeks, Bayern knew they’d so as to add to their assault. And after Jamal Musiala suffered a fractured leg within the Membership World Cup quarterfinals towards Paris Saint-Germain, the strain on Bayern director of sport Max Eberl elevated much more.
Eberl takes a substantial danger by signing Díaz due to the scale of the monetary dedication. Díaz is anticipated to earn €14 million earlier than taxes, a supply informed ESPN, a 66% improve from his wage at Liverpool. The Bavarian membership truly wished to decrease their payroll this summer time, on condition that they’ve a lot of gamers with annual salaries within the eight digits, however Díaz’s contract continues the development.
Eberl has confronted criticism for his negotiating and squad-building expertise, and as soon as once more, it seems to be as if he has struck a median deal at finest. Díaz will probably be 32 when his four-year contract expires, making it unlikely that he could have a lot worth ought to he should be moved.
Bayern have had a proclivity for wingers since they signed Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry within the late 2000s and kickstarted a interval of success. As Robben and Ribéry aged out, the likes of Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry and Sané took over, and it appears as if head coach Vincent Kompany desires to proceed placing an emphasis on explosive huge gamers. Michael Olise joined Bayern final summer time and was arguably their finest participant in his first season on the membership.
One supply informed ESPN that that Kompany was in favor of including Díaz to the squad. Not solely can he play on the left, however he has additionally confirmed to be a reliable striker, making 15 begins as a No. 9 in Slot’s staff final season. One may even argue that Díaz is extra harmful coming by means of the center than from the left today. No matter his place, he’s seen as an efficient presser who will match into Bayern’s system.
In the course of the Membership World Cup, Kompany experimented with a 4-4-2, with Gnabry and Harry Kane enjoying up entrance. Díaz could possibly be an alternative choice for a task subsequent to Kane, particularly if Bayern don’t handle to signal ahead Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart.
The worst case for Eberl can be his most costly signing this summer time having a median season and never instantly justifying the excessive contract worth. On the similar time, Kompany runs the danger of alienating youthful gamers if he is not prepared to provide any of the present crop of academy graduates an opportunity.
Bayern possess just a few promising prospects in attacking midfield, most notably 19-year-old Paul Wanner, however it seems that alternatives with the primary staff will probably be restricted. And the possibilities of them seeing the sector any time quickly have decreased with Díaz’s arrival. — Constantin Eckner