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 team's sobriety in personnel management.

A decision that is hard to refuse

Diaz was not a name Liverpool wanted to sell in this transfer window. However, when Bayern Munich kept raising the price, finally reaching £70 million, FSG opted to nod. 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 demand for a pay rise - to more than £10 million a year - is not in line with FSG's financial policy. Since 2023, the player and his representatives have repeatedly pushed for an extension, but Liverpool have been steadfast in their determination to stick to the established salary cap. This determination has led to the departure of many other key players, such as Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino or Georginio Wijnaldum.

Michael Edwards, FSG’s football director, has long been known for his principle of “not letting emotions dictate 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 the wage structure.

After Luis Diaz, it is likely 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 pounds, 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 Liverpool’s decision-making. 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 expectations. Just a year later, Bayern had to sell Mane at a loss to the Saudi Pro League – proving that Liverpool had chosen the right time to “take the profit”.

Diaz, though always dedicated and energetic, is not exempt from that logic. He will be over 30 when his contract with Bayern ends, while Liverpool still have the financial initiative to invest in younger targets, more suitable for long-term plans.

Of course, selling Diaz is risky. He is one of the key players on the wing, providing pace and creativity. Fans will quickly judge the deal by the quality of the replacement.

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

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

Liverpool are 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 like 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