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Bayern Munich should not have been so keen to sell Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United, as they’re losing a real leader in the team.

That’s according to Dietmar Hamann, who has criticised the decision to sell the defender, with his comments relayed by FCB Inside.

De Ligt completed a move to Manchester United earlier this week, becoming their latest signing in what has been a busy summer of rebuilding for the Red Devils, particularly in defence.

The move sees him reuniting with his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag and perhaps looking to recapture the form he managed under him at the Dutch club.

The defender was highly rated during his time in the Netherlands but has endured a difficult few years after moving to Juventus in 2019 and then Bayern in 2022.

He was a favourite in his first season, managing 43 appearances in total and continued to be started almost whenever fit during the last campaign.

It seems new manager Vincent Kompany was not convinced and happy to let him go to Manchester United, but Hamann believes that may prove to be a major mistake.

“I wouldn’t have given him up,” he said when asked about the transfer.

“He wasn’t always able to match his performance at Ajax in Turin or Munich, but for me he was the most stable central defender at Bayern in the last six to eight months.

“He is someone who opens his mouth and makes his players better. I don’t see that with the other central defenders. For me, De Ligt would have been set.”