Ryan Gravenberch moved to Bavaria in the summer of 2022 as the hyped midfield prodigy of a much-heralded transfer class for Bayern Munich.

None of them truly succeeded and not all are prospering. But Gravenberch, 23, is thriving. The Ajax academy graduate just enjoyed a superb campaign for Liverpool, starting 37 Premier League matches in Arne Slot’s championship-winning debut year as manager. Even with the Reds reshaping their forward line, Gravenberch has emerged as one of the vital anchors to steady things in midfield.

“I was losing my mind,” Gravenberch recalled of his Munich stint, in comments reported by British tabloid Mirror.

Bayern lifted the trophy that single season Gravenberch spent there, the final chapter in a run of 11 consecutive Bundesliga crowns for Germany’s record winners. Yet serving only a fringe role proved tough for the new signing.

“I was glad we were champions, but my role was small. We stood there with medals, but I did not feel like a champion at all. It was so different from every other time I lifted trophies,” Gravenberch continued. “Under [then-boss Julian] Nagelsmann, I went three straight games just sitting the full 90 minutes watching my teammates. That was when I began to lose it mentally. By winter I was finished with it. In the last two months of the season under [Thomas] Tuchel, I featured more than in the entire period before.

“I remember how it was at Bayern, but I know I managed to rise from that low. And that makes me proud.”

Luckily for Gravenberch, he had his parents supporting him during those dark spells. The Mirror piece also cited words from his father, told to Dutch magazine Helden.

“Football is a cruel world,” said Gravenberch Sr. “And people in that world can be too. Much was spoken about him, but many forgot he was just a 21-year-old. The whole Bayern Munich journey never turned out as he imagined. He trained extremely hard, but he was never given a real chance to prove himself.

“At that point, we could never imagine he would move to Liverpool and have Arne Slot as his coach. When I see what has happened with Slot and Liverpool, I must honestly say he has gone from despair to delight!”

Often, a fresh environment is enough. For Gravenberch, leaving Germany for England has worked perfectly.