When a club attempts to sign a player, who the manager they will be working with and the subsequent discussions with the player are very important factors in convincing a player to join. When Bayern Munich worked to convince Luis Díaz to sign from Liverpool FC, Vincent Kompany was the manager sent to convince Díaz to sign. Given the Colombian only knew Kompany from his one season in the Premier League with Burnley, which ended in relegation, it might have initially seemed that Kompany was not going to be a positive aspect for him.
But the former Porto player saw beyond just that one season and was quickly impressed by Kompany.
He told me what he thought of me, what he wanted from me, and what role he saw me playing in the team,” Díaz said to Kerry Hau of his phone call with Kompany before the move to Bayern, as captured by @iMiaSanMia. “That was a huge help. Even after the transfer was official and I arrived here, we sat down and talked about a lot of things – about football, but also about personal and family matters. And that’s an important point. I feel very comfortable with him as my coach. That’s why I think I’ll develop even more than I already have. You learn a lot about football from him. He likes intensity, he likes character – everyone defends, everyone attacks. All those things that are important for a team to work well. And as a person, he’s truly incredible. He pays attention to the little things, he cares about you. He even asks questions like, ‘How’s your family? Do you need any help? Just get in touch if you need anything.’ He’s incredible; there’s nothing more to say about him as a person. And I know he can achieve so much more than he already has. Kompany has been very important for me and for my ability to integrate so quickly and easily here.”
Kompany may not have had the best CV before his move to Bayern but he clearly has a great character and a good footballing philosophy. Often, if the player is willing to engage in a conversation, that is enough.