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After leaving Liverpool this past summer, Luis Díaz has had a strong start at Bayern Munich under Vincent Kompany, having accumulated 18 goal contributions (12 goals, six assists) in all competitions. Bayern manager Vincent Kompany gave Díaz a few days off to press the reset button after his sending off against PSG, but now the 28-year-old winger is back and ready to wrap up the year as Bayern play their final game of 2025 this Sunday when they travel to Heidenheim. I spoke to the Colombian star about his new club, life in Germany and next summer’s World Cup, which includes a headline matchup against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Why do you think you have acclimated well to Bayern, especially given you’ve had to adjust to the Bundesliga?
I think it’s because they have placed a tremendous amount of trust in me. From the first day, my teammates and the club also made me feel welcome very quickly, and even though learning the language is a little difficult they made me feel like part of the family. The truth is that with Bayern I have found a very united team, at ease -something I have always been used to and something I have always wanted. So that’s why this has been very easy.
I was also coming from good years at Liverpool, the final year especially, so playing in the Premier League really helped me. And for me I wanted a challenge and to play in the Bundesliga, try a new experience. I knew that I would do well. Obviously I didn’t expect for me to do well so quickly but that’s what I work for.
You have always been a creative player but it seems that Kompany has really allowed you to be even more free. Do you agree?
Yes, completely. I feel more confident, more comfortable. And I also have a spectacular group [of teammates] where all of us play for the team. I mean, we have many stars! But we play more together and so that’s very important as well. It’s worth repeating.
After the game against St Pauli, Kompany said you have a “chaotic creativity.” You’re someone who can always do something in chaos. Do you see yourself as someone who likes to create chaos on the pitch?
[Laughs] Yes, totally. I love [the chaos]. I try to enjoy it as much as possible. Obviously with the commitment that you must have, [you do] whatever the manager asks of you. But I also want to enjoy it and create those chaotic moments you were talking about. It’s fundamental for me because I also live on the pitch like that, a player that causes headaches.
You mentioned there are no egos among the team there are certainly a lot of stars. One of them is Harry Kane.
Wow. Harry Kane … is incredible. I faced him many times back when he was with Tottenham so I knew him on the pitch but never shared it with him. Because one thing is seeing him and the other is sharing with him in training or in the dressing room.
The day by day…
Exactly, the day by day. The little details. He surprised me.
How did he surprise you?
He does things in training where I say to myself, “this can’t be.” He’s so good. So good. It’s the truth! He plays so much and does everything well. Hunts for the ball, passes, defends – you watch him defend, he dedicates himself so much, someone so calm … and yet he scores goals. This guy lives for them. Each one that comes to him – once, twice, three times – he scores all of them.
He’s also a great person. Very down-to-earth, family-orientated…just a spectacular person.
Bayern’s other objective is to win the Champions League again. How confident are you of the club’s hopes of winning it once again?
Every time I come to a new club, just because of the way I am, I want to win everything. Whatever is up for grabs. The club obviously wants to win [the Champions League] from the beginning, and we are currently doing well. But at the end I think we need to show it and confirm it at the final stages.
I remember in my school days I had to learn German and thought it was the hardest thing in the world. How do you, your partner Geraldine and two daughters like living in Germany? Was it a culture shock?
Honestly, my life here has been great because the city of Munich is also so great. There are so many things to do. It’s big, there are lots of things to do with the kids, the restaurants…
Have you found any Arepas? (traditional Colombian patties)
No, that’s impossible here – you know the best Arepas are Colombian! But no, honestly, there are lots of great things here. It’s very modern and clean, I love Munich. I go out with the girls to the park and everything else. The public respects [your privacy] – they see you but they respect you. They’re very grateful. My family too.
Your kids are going to speak three languages now!
Yes! The eldest especially speaks English too and I love that because we didn’t have that growing up. I didn’t learn English in school, only Spanish. So for them to have it is a great advantage.
But not with a scouse accent.
[Laughing] Yes, exactly.
Let’s finish with Colombia. Now you know your group at the World Cup. You will face Ronaldo and Portugal in Miami! It will be one of the biggest matches of the group stages and it will surely have a tremendous amount of Colombian support. How do you feel about it?
We are very excited for the World Cup, we’ve had a great process [getting there] under el profesor Néstor [Lorenzo] since he came and I think we have grown a lot. We have played some good matches, learned some positive and equally learned some negative things. Bad and good. And so now you see a happy team, very calm, very united that aims for the same objective and I love that. I also see that our fans, our people are in the same sentiment.
The game against Portugal? It’s going to be incredible. They have one of the best players in the world – Cristiano Ronaldo. I also had a chance to play with Vitinha [at Porto], they have Bruno Fernandes … it’s going to be a very well played match. We have shown that we can play against any national team and so we will obviously be looking for the win.
The Colombian fans in America are everywhere – the largest South American community in the US. I myself live in New York City, I live close to Jackson Heights, Queens – which is basically Barranquilla. The Colombian fanbase is incredible here. Do you think that can help the national team next summer?
Yes, yes, yes. Totally. That’s a super important factor. To have a complete fanbase and to fill half the stadium is incredible from all the matches we have played in the US. To have those fans to support us is going to be incredible and we will feel like we’re home. It’s going to be so enjoyable.
I also wanted your thoughts on James Rodríguez as this is probably his final World Cup – another Cafetero who played for Bayern. How important is he to Colombia – the fans and the team?
He’s our captain, our leader and every time he puts on the Colombian shirt he transforms himself. He always gives everything for the national team every time he plays and he’s the one we look up to. He’s also at an age that allows him to be more at ease, happy and enjoy life. I don’t know how long he has, I want to enjoy him more! I want him always with the national team. So for us, the national team, for our people – he is the No 10. The captain. He is everything for us.
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Luis Miguel Echegaray is a writer, analyst and host specializing in soccer and sports content that also appeals to the U.S. Latino audience. He has previously worked at ESPN, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated and is returning to the Guardian as a contributor.
