Bayern Munich centre-back Jonathan Tah says he has been immediately impressed by new teammate Luis Diaz following their first two weeks together at the club.
Tah, who was born in Germany to an Ivorian father, joined Bayern this summer on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, while Diaz made the move from Liverpool in a €75 million deal.
The pair have already trained side by side and faced each other in competitive drills.
“During the first sessions, we were practically always on the same team. But now I also had the pleasure of facing him,” Tah told Kicker. “It’s fun because he tests your skills and, as a result, you improve.”
The 29-year-old defender is no stranger to Diaz’s quality, having played against him when the Colombian forward scored a hat-trick for Liverpool against Leverkusen in the Champions League.
“We’ve already talked about it,” Tah said. “He appreciated our performance in the first half, but in the second half they overwhelmed us, especially him.”
Tah praised Diaz’s attributes both on and off the pitch, describing him as a model professional with exceptional talent.
“He’s a top-class player and also a great person: very practical, very hard-working, but with so much quality,” Tah added. “It’s a perfect combination; that’s where the best players come from. He has incredible speed and is a real threat in front of goal.”
The Bundesliga champions are in the midst of their pre-season preparations under new manager Vincent Kompany, with both Tah and Diaz expected to play central roles in Bayern’s title defence and Champions League campaign.
