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Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann feels Liverpool is now realizing the cost of allowing Luis Diaz to depart over the summer, with the German saying he has been a “bigger loss” to the team than most anticipated.
Diaz was among the plethora of Liverpool players who were sold at the end of last season, along with the likes of Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, and Caoimhin Kelleher. But of all the summer departures, it’s perhaps Diaz’s exit that has been felt most keenly.
Without him, the Reds have lacked options in the wide areas, as Arne Slot remains reluctant to start Federico Chiesa or Rio Ngumoha. Diaz has also excelled at Bayern Munich and has produced 11 goals and five assists from his first 18 appearances for the German side.
With Liverpool struggling, Hamann feels the true cost of allowing Diaz to leave is now being felt.
“It wasn't easy to keep Luis Diaz because he asked for a pay rise the summer before last, and they didn't because he had three years left. Now I think it was the same issue,” the 2005 Champions League winner told CoinCasino.com.
“He wanted more money because he was on a relatively low wage for the standard he played and the club he played for.
“The club wouldn't agree because he's 28 and had two years left on his contract, so he wanted to leave the club. I'm not sure whether sometimes when people want to leave, you're best to let them go.
“But obviously with a lot of players, or some players, you only find out how important they are when they're not playing. I think he's one of them.
“Even though usually in central midfield, that's the case when somebody's not playing.
"You know, sometimes they don't really do much, but when they're not playing, you think, 'Well, he's been missing.'
“I think it's the same with him because he was a hard worker.
"I think this is where they lack at the moment. I'm not sure whether they've got enough players who want to work for their teammate.
"Sometimes when somebody's making a mistake, you've got to chase back and help your teammate out.
"At the moment, I don't really see that. I think it's fair to say that, yeah, he's probably been a bigger loss than a lot of people thought. Similar to Trent Alexander-Arnold."
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