De Ligt on Why He Left Juventus to Join Bayern Munich

Matthijs De Ligt detailed the reason for his Juventus farewell and Bayern Munich switch last year. The center-back transferred to Germany in a €67M deal that was surprisingly swift considering its dimension. The Bianconeri promptly replaced him with Gleison Bremer. The Dutchman talked to Voetbalzone (via Calciomercato).

“I was pretty comfortable in Turin. The Bavarians had just been eliminated from the Champions League by Villarreal and reached out to my agent. They told him they needed a defender, and he relayed it to me. I replied very quickly that, if it was really a possibility, I would have liked to go there. The plan was set in motion in late May/early June and finalized in mid-July.”

De Ligt lauded Bayern Munich for their MO.

“Besides the Harry Kane saga, which was pretty public, they usually conduct their business in a discreet and quiet manner. They tend to make sudden signings. That was the case for me too. I didn’t feel the need to inform the media, so it was a surprise for most people except for me and my entourage.”

De Ligt disclosed his main motivation for the Bayern Munich move.

“I was beloved at Juventus, and the fans thought I was an excellent player and saw my level of commitment and my showings. However, if a team of that caliber that has good chances of winning the Champions League every year chases you, you don’t need to think much about it.”