“We already know he’s a Man United fan and as a result he sold our best player to them… He’ll be sacked”: Club manager accused of being a Man United fan for selling club’s best player to United, threatened to be sacked

Bayern Munich and German football legend Lothar Matthäus has openly criticized the decision by his former club to allow Matthijs de Ligt to transfer to Manchester United. The Dutch center-back had reached a personal agreement with United as early as June, but it wasn’t until August that the two clubs finalized the deal, paving the way for de Ligt’s departure from Bayern Munich.

At 25 years old, de Ligt has only featured in a few matches as a substitute this season, with his first start for the Red Devils still on hold as he works to regain full match fitness. However, after Harry Maguire’s disappointing performance against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, there’s a strong possibility that de Ligt might be called upon to start in United’s highly anticipated clash against Liverpool on Sunday.

Lothar Matthäus, a towering figure in German football, has not concealed his dissatisfaction with de Ligt’s exit from Bayern. In his column for Sky Germany, which was later cited by getfootballnewsgermany.com, Matthäus expressed his deep concern over Bayern’s defensive frailties and questioned how letting go of a player of de Ligt’s caliber would help solve the club’s ongoing issues at the back.

“Bayern’s defense has been, and continues to be, their Achilles’ heel. Selling Matthijs de Ligt, who was the most consistent defender over the last two years, seems like a misstep. He was the backbone of the defense, a true leader,” Matthäus wrote.

He continued by pointing out the ongoing struggles at Bayern to find a suitable replacement for David Alaba, who left the club previously. “It’s disheartening that such a crucial figure is now missing. We’re talking about FC Bayern here – a club of immense stature. The current center-backs in the squad need to reassess their performances.”

Matthäus further emphasized that had de Ligt stayed, Bayern’s defensive concerns might not have been as pronounced. “If de Ligt hadn’t been sold, I wouldn’t be worried about Bayern’s defense. But it seems my opinion differs from that of the club’s management. It’s a decision that must be respected, yet many within the team are baffled. The players themselves recognize the instability in defense, and now their best defender has been sold.”

Matthäus’s remarks stand in stark contrast to the opinions voiced by several British pundits and former players. Both Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand have been critical of United’s decision to sign de Ligt, questioning why the club would bring in a player who was deemed surplus to requirements by Bayern Munich. Ferdinand, in particular, voiced his skepticism, suggesting that de Ligt might not be the solution to United’s defensive woes.

However, not everyone shares this sentiment. Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann echoed Matthäus’s perspective, agreeing that selling de Ligt was a mistake and that Bayern would likely feel the absence of their former defensive leader.