Former Premier League ace Rafael Van der Vaart believes reported Liverpool and Arsenal target Ryan Gravenberch would have been better off joining Tottenham Hotspur rather than Bayern Munich last summer.
Hindsight, of course, is a wonderful thing.
Perhaps, if Gravenberch knew in advance that he would not start a single Bundesliga game during his debut season at the Allianz Arena, the Dutch international may have had second thoughts about leaving Ajax for Bavaria in a £21 million deal.
Gravenberch, frustrated with his lack of game-time, could be on the move again in the coming months. According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg and The Mirror, both Arsenal and Liverpool are in talks.
Arsenal and Liverpool like Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch
Van der Vaart, meanwhile, argues that Gravenberch should have followed in his North London footsteps before putting pen to paper with a Bayern side already boasting Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Jamal Musiala and Marcel Sabitzer.
“(Gravenberch would have been better off at) Borussia Dortmund or Tottenham Hotspur. I still think those clubs are great,” Van der Vaart tells Ziggo Sport.
“You have to have an intermediate step now and then to really show how good you are. He can score. He can provide assists. I think he is much better than he can show at Bayern.”
Van der Vaart, who enjoyed two excellent seasons at Tottenham, caused quite the stir earlier this week when he suggested that Gravenberch was ‘better than Jude Bellingham in every way’.
The one-time Real Madrid attacker is now doubling down on those claims, however.
“It’s my opinion,” Van der Vaart adds. “But I understand that people disagree.”
“I really think (he is better than Bellingham). Only the choice of club makes the difference. I think he is much better than Bellingham in terms of his talent.
“(The only difference is) Bellingham plays every week. And Gravenberch does not have that chance to prove himself.”
Gravenberch will hope to feature as Bayern Munich host Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday night. Thomas Tuchel’s side are 3-0 down from the first leg in England.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
