Exclusive interview with Didi Hamann: I’d love to see Jack Grealish at Bayern Munich

Speaking exclusively with InstantCasino, Liverpool icon Didi Hamann has urged Jack Grealish to get a fresh start in his career by moving to Bayern Munich.

The former Germany international has also told Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund to consider a swap deal with Darwin Nunez and Jamie Gittens this summer.

Hamann has also discussed how he would’ve loved to have seen Cristiano Ronaldo in the Bundesliga and why PSG will beat Aston Villa on their way to Champions League glory.

Question: Could Kevin De Bruyne still impress at Bayern Munich?

Didi Hamann: “Kevin De Bruyne to Bayern Munich? If you look at the last European Championships and you look at the Premier League, you can see that Kevin De Bruyne can still influence games but not as often as he used to.

“I’m not sure whether he wants to go to a club now in Germany in which they might have less of the ball than they do at Manchester City which does make things easier in his position.

“He might go to a team where he probably has to work a little bit harder getting the ball back and I’m not sure at his age, that is what he wants. 

“He had a chance to go to Saudi last season, but he didn’t. So I think Saudi or the MLS is probably the most likely destination for him.”

Q: Is Florian Wirtz the best replacement for Kevin De Bruyne?

DH: “I can’t see Florian Wirtz at Manchester City, even though there is interest. There was interest from Real Madrid too and while I could see him there, I think it depends on who the manager is. I think he is tailor-made for both of them though. 

“I don’t think that England is his preferred destination, Bayern Munich is a huge admirer. But I think a lot will depend on what the manager does. 

“Xabi Alonso has played a big role in his development and at the moment it looks like Alonso is going to stay another season at Leverkusen. If that’s the case, I think Wirtz will stay as well.”

Q: Could you see Jack Grealish at Bayern Munich?

DH: “Jack Grealish is a player I’d really like to see at Bayern Munich. I think he has still got unlimited potential.

“He has only had one standout season in four years at Manchester City, I feel like he is a free spirit both on and off the pitch and you have to let him have freedom.

“The question at Bayern would be where he plays, I think he is at his best just behind the centre forward as a number 10 even though he has played a lot out wide, but he was outstanding there for England against Ireland.

“Bayern do have Jamal Musiala there, but I think he is a player that you have to put in his best position because he is that good. It’s also a question of if they are able to afford him, but he would bring flair to the Bundesliga for sure.”

Q: Could Darwin Nunez go to Borussia Dortmund in a swap with Jamie Gittens?

DH: “One option that could work is Jamie Gittens and Darwin Nunez in a swap deal between Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.

“Gittens started the season on fire and was almost carrying the team for the first three months of the season. Since the new manager arrived he has found things a bit hard and not started many games, because the new manager is looking for the hardest workers.

“He needed time to adapt but came off the bench and scored on Saturday, hopefully he will have an impact in the Champions League. But I would say that Gittens and Nunez in a swap deal is not that far fetched.”

Q: Would winning the Bundesliga have boosted the CV of Cristiano Ronaldo?

DH: “Cristiano Ronaldo was linked to Bayern Munich when he left Manchester United and I would’ve loved to have seen him playing in the Bundesliga.

“He played and won two of the best leagues in the Premier League and La Liga, for Germany clubs it was always a question over the wages and the transfer fee.

“It would’ve been great to see how he did in the Bundesliga, but you can have no complaints over his career.”

Q: Was Vincent Kompany lucky to be offered the Bayern Munich job?

DH: “Vincent Kompany is calm and composed and I think Sean Dyche was tongue in cheek when he spoke about Kompany being given the Bayern job.

“Kompany wasn’t the first choice but he got the job and is trying to make the most of it, he is very smart and good at talking to the press. This season looks like a success story but that could change very fast.”

Q: Which two sides will contest the Champions League final?

DH: “I think the Champions League will be won by PSG. They sent out a statement when they beat Breast 10-0 in the playoffs and before that when they beat Stuttgart in the last group game, it looked like a mismatch.

“I think they can steamroll teams and I think they will take care of Aston Villa before a bigger test against Arsenal or Real Madrid.

“I think they’ll get through that and then face Bayern Munich or Barcelona, in that scenario I go for PSG to lift the trophy.”

Q: Is the Club World Cup dangerous for players?

DH: “Is the Club World Cup dangerous for players? Of course.

“Players used to have breaks every other summer from major competitions and now it will be once every four years which is really pushing it.

“If you get knocked out early you might get the three or four weeks you need, but we will need to see teams have bigger squads, that’s why I have questioned why you have to name 25 in the Champions League.

“Lots of players came back from injuries but hadn’t been named, which doesn’t make sense but it’s because the clubs had to make that call.

“Is the Club World Cup a risk? Yes. Players will be exhausted and they won’t play to the level we know they can. Squads will just end up bigger and the quality of games will get worse.”