Luis Diaz says his switch from Liverpool to Bayern Munich was a “big gamble,” but the Colombian forward has already made an instant impact in Germany after finding the net in his first official appearance.
The 28-year-old joined Bayern in a £65.5 million transfer last month, ending a successful spell at Anfield where he played a key role in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last season.
According to reports, Diaz had first expressed a desire to leave Liverpool in the summer of 2024, but the club resisted at the time while reviewing both their squad and market options.
Two failed rounds of contract talks – where the parties could not bridge the gap between offers and demands – eventually led Liverpool to agree to his departure this year.
On Saturday, Díaz marked his competitive debut in style, scoring in Bayern’s 2-1 victory over Stuttgart in the DFL-Supercup.
“I’m very happy and pleased with how this weekend went,” Diaz said. “As you pointed out, it was my first official match, my first goal, and my first title. I dreamed of coming here to achieve great things and give my best. I try to enjoy football.
“It was a big gamble and I’m very grateful to the management for reaching out to me and trusting me. It’s always up to me to respond on the pitch and contribute with what I know how to do. To be at the disposal of the coaching staff. To start this way and be together with my teammates is incredible.”
The forward also revealed he had spoken to former Liverpool teammate Florian Wirtz about the Bundesliga before making the move.
“I already had some knowledge of the Bundesliga. I love watching football and all the competitions. I had the opportunity to talk to Florian in Liverpool, and I know it’s a physical league. I hope to have a great debut. I’ve been here at the club for about two weeks, and I need time to settle in.”
Diaz’s celebration carried extra emotion as he dedicated his goal to Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car accident alongside his brother, Andre Silva, last month.
Reflecting on the loss, he said: “It’s brutal. The fact that he’s no longer with us and that we’ve lost an incredible team-mate is unbelievable. No one is prepared to receive this kind of news and feel OK when faced with a situation like this.
“He was a great team-mate to me. We will remember him fondly. He will live on in our memories, and being able to dedicate the goal to him is something special. I had planned to do so.”
