Despite Bayern Munich fans petitioning to stop Matthijs de Ligt’s transfer, it seems the Dutch defender’s former teammates at the club aren’t missing him. On October 21 (KST), Sport Bible reported that "Matthijs de Ligt appears to have become the subject of subtle digs after his summer move to Manchester United." Bayern Munich’s squad had been evolving, with new signings like Hiroki Ito joining established players such as Dayot Upamecano, Eric Dier, and Kim Min-jae. The club had also shown interest in Germany international Jonathan Tah, leaving de Ligt’s position increasingly uncertain. However, Bayern fans were eager to see de Ligt stay. They believed the defender was one of the best in the world and launched a petition, urging the club’s board to retain him. Fans praised his promising future and strong mentality. According to Sky Sports Germany, "Despite de Ligt only managing 22 Bundesliga appearances last season due to injury, the petition gathered 60,000 signatures. With Manchester United and Erik ten Hag eyeing a big-money move, it remains to be seen if Bayern will cave to external pressure." Nevertheless, the petition had no real impact, and de Ligt ultimately joined Manchester United on a five-year contract, along with his Bayern teammate Noussair Mazraoui. Since de Ligt’s departure, Bayern players seem to have adjusted, with Dayot Upamecano even discussing his partnership with Kim Min-jae, indicating that the squad isn’t dwelling on de Ligt’s absence. Journalist Kylian Kreitz reported that Upamecano commented, "Kim Min-jae and I are in sync. He’s gained more confidence now. Like me, he faced a lot of criticism. But that’s football. We need to stay focused and always give our best." Since joining United, de Ligt has made 10 appearances across all competitions but has struggled to adapt. Last Saturday, he sustained a serious head injury during a match against Brentford, leaving the pitch twice due to bleeding, though he helped United secure a victory. Last month, Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl explained the reasoning behind selling de Ligt. He mentioned two key factors, emphasizing that Bayern’s current center-back pairing fits manager Vincent Kompany’s playing style better. "We had no choice but to sell," Eberl stated during a press conference. He further explained, "We feel more comfortable with Upamecano and Kim Min-jae, as they’re quicker and allow us to defend higher up the pitch. When the offer for de Ligt came in, we felt it was the right move."