Liverpool were right to sell Luis Diaz

Liverpool agree to sell Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich.

Liverpool have had a turbulent summer in the transfer market, and the sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich for £70 million is a clear demonstration of Fenway Sports Group’s (FSG) cold business philosophy. This is not just a purely financial decision, but also reflects the Anfield club’s sobriety in personnel management.

A decision that is hard to refuse

Diaz was not a player Liverpool wanted to sell in this transfer window. However, when Bayern Munich kept raising the price, finally reaching £70 million, FSG agreed. That fee was double the £37 million Liverpool spent to bring him from Porto in 2022, a very reasonable deal in terms of profit.

More importantly, Diaz’s wage demands – to over £10m a year – are not in line with FSG’s financial policy. Since 2023, the player and his agent have repeatedly pushed for an extension, but Liverpool have stuck to the wage cap that has been set. This insistence has seen other players leave, such as Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum.

Michael Edwards, FSG’s football director, has long been known for his “no emotion” approach to financial decisions. In the eyes of Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes, Diaz has reached the final stage of his career. Selling him at the peak of his market value is a way for Liverpool to rotate their squad without breaking their wage structure.

After Luis Diaz, it is likely that it will be Darwin Nunez's turn to leave Liverpool.

This policy has helped Liverpool make huge profits from unbelievable deals: selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £142 million, or earning tens of millions of pounds from players who are no longer in the plan, such as Jordon Ibe, Mamadou Sakho, Danny Ings or Rhian Brewster. Thanks to that, despite constantly investing in the squad, the club still maintains financial balance - a vital factor in an era of football governed by strict financial regulations.

Lessons from Mane

Sadio Mane is a prime example of how Liverpool make decisions. Despite being an Anfield legend, the Senegalese striker was sold to Bayern when he turned 30, with a £20m-a-year salary that no longer matched his long-term performance projections. Just a year later, Bayern sold Mane at a loss to the Saudi Pro League – proof that Liverpool had timed their move well.

Diaz, though dedicated and energetic, is no exception to that logic. He will be 30 when his contract with Bayern ends, while Liverpool still have the financial freedom to invest in younger targets who are more suitable for their long-term plans.

Of course, selling Diaz is risky. He is a key winger, providing pace and creativity. Fans will quickly judge the deal by the quality of his replacement.

Liverpool signed Wirtz in the summer of 2025, a move to replace Luis Diaz.

However, history shows that Liverpool often get it right. From Coutinho to Mane, high-profile departures have not weakened the team, and have even created opportunities for a more intelligent restructuring of the squad.

Liverpool are now not only a successful club on the pitch but also a model of financial management in modern football. If “The Art of the Deal” needs a new chapter, perhaps figures such as Michael Edwards, Richard Hughes and chairman Mike Gordon deserve to be mentioned as masters of the transfer market.

Source: https://znews.vn/liverpool-da-dung-khi-ban-luis-diaz-post1572141.html