This was the summer of 2022, a failed transfer class that also included Sadio Man\u00e9, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, and Mathys Tel. At the time Bayern was actually the picture of stability, with a front office apparently fulling backing second-year head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who was heavily involved in the recruitment process alongside sporting executives Hasan \u201cBrazzo\u201d Salihamid\u017ei\u0107 and Marco Neppe.<\/p>\n
Brassel, however, is correct in pointing out that Bayern had big names established at the position, starting with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka. While Brassel identifies Kimmich\u2019s \u201cwing-backish leanings\u201d as something that leads Bayern to turning to Jo\u00e3o Palhinha, the Portuguese defensive mid or even his profile seemed far from a hot topic at the time \u2014 Nagelsmann\u2019s former RB Leipzig charges, Marcel Sabitzer, was the latest addition and \u201cpressing machine\u201d Konrad Laimer was soon to be next<\/a> in line.<\/p>\n However, rather than as a No. 6 or even in central midfield at all, Gravenberch indeed was getting his sparse opportunities for Bayern in the even more crowded attacking midfield \u2014 that old haunt of Thomas M\u00fcller and subsequently Jamal Musiala. In Brassel\u2019s words, the young arrival from Ajax was a mere \u2018afterthought.\u2019<\/p>\n That charge seems unfair to levy at Bayern. The German record champions were widely praised at the time for scooping up a talented and versatile youngster in midfield with a view to developing him for the future. Where that future lay, as with many young and less-established players, was naturally an open box, and maybe the player himself had something to do with it.<\/p>\n Nagelsmann was reported<\/a> to have harped on the youngster\u2019s defensive side of the game. His successor, Thomas Tuchel, described<\/a> him as \u201ca box-to-box midfielder for me, an attacking player\u201d without a fit in Bayern\u2019s 4-2-3-1, who wanted to be a No. 8 in Liverpool\u2019s 4-3-3. So if Gravenberch\u2019s role disappeared, it didn\u2019t come before his recruitment.<\/p>\n And to his credit, Gravenberch did develop his defensive qualities \u2014 it\u2019s just not Bayern who is reaping the rewards on the pitch. He blossomed as a No. 6 in Arne Slot\u2019s Premier League-winning side last season \u2014 ironically, in a 4-2-3-1.<\/p>\n
![\"LIVERPOOL,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gettyimages-2236399926.jpg\"\/)
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