Bayern Munich director reveals why Matthijs de Ligt was sold and it could concern Manchester United

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Bayern Munich's decision to sell Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United this summer raised eyebrows among fans, but the club's sporting director, Max Eberl, has now shed light on the reasons behind the move-one of which could be a concern for Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag.

De Ligt's transfer to United was finalized for a fee of up to £42.9 million after the Dutch defender fell out of favor at Bayern. His departure wasn't without controversy, as many Bayern fans launched a petition urging the club to retain the 24-year-old.

Despite this, the club proceeded with the sale, marking the end of de Ligt's two-season stint in Munich. The Dutch international had joined Bayern from Juventus in 2022 and experienced mixed success.

While he struggled initially, de Ligt eventually became a key player for the German giants, particularly in the latter half of the 2022/23 season, where he was instrumental in their UEFA Champions League run to the semifinals. However, Bayern's management opted for a different defensive strategy this season.

In explaining the decision, Eberl pointed to two main factors. Firstly, Bayern needed to raise funds through player sales, and de Ligt's transfer provided a lucrative opportunity. But more notably, Bayern's coaching staff believed de Ligt's playing style wasn't suited to their high-pressing defensive system.

They opted instead to rely on Dayot Upamecano and summer signing Kim Min-jae as their first-choice center-backs, while also bringing in Hiroki Ito from VfB Stuttgart as added depth.

Eberl elaborated on the reasoning in an interview on Sport1's Doppelpass, saying, "I understand the fans' emotions, especially with the petition.

"But we needed to sell players, and ultimately, we felt more secure with Upamecano and Kim because of their ability to defend higher up the pitch. De Ligt is a great defender, but his lack of mobility didn't fit our system, and the offer came in at the right time."

While Bayern saw the Dutchman as improper for their tactical approach, de Ligt has already started to make his mark at Old Trafford. After a challenging Premier League debut against Liverpool, he scored his first goal for Manchester United in a 3-0 victory over Southampton, showing early signs of his potential impact.

The coming months will reveal whether de Ligt can prove his doubters wrong and establish himself as a key figure under Erik ten Hag. As for Bayern, only time will tell if their decision to part ways with the talented center-back was the right call for their future.