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On Monday everything went very fast. Members of the FC Bayern board of directors welcomed one access after another in Säbener Strasse, before the assembly line works to sign the newly printed contracts and prepare press releases with flattering quotes. After weeks of waiting and wondering who the club could fill its meager squad with, Bayern scored a hat trick on the final day of the transfer period. A pack of three on the day of the deadline.
So it became official on Monday, which was not to be expected last week. As a substitute for Robert Lewandowski, Bayern signed the free signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, 31, who last played for Paris Saint-Germain and gets a contract until the summer of 2021; as an alternative to Benjamin Pavard in the right-back position Bouna Sarr, 28, from Olympique de Marseille, received a contract until 2024; and for the offensive wing: Douglas Costa, 30, is on loan from Juventus.
“Quite a mercenary, we didn’t like his character”
That Douglas Costa, who finally moved to Turin in 2018 after three years at Bayern, and that with some very unpleasant accompanying noises. It was then President Uli Hoeneß who intervened and said: “Costa did not work because he was quite a mercenary and we did not like his character.” And also: “There are players who start two days after signing the contract to think about where they can earn more money. We had a similar case with the Coast. After a very short time, they have more, although the performance was not so good.” He wants to have money. We give it away on FC Bayern terms. “
Hoeneß is gone, officially at least, and Douglas Costa is back. At least the latter is probably not ideal from a Bavarian point of view. Because Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi was considered a dream player for the offensive end. Bayern would have liked to give up the 19-year-old for a year, with a later purchase option. For the people of Munich a deal without great risks. If it fits the test year, then strike. And if not, you simply return it, like last season, for example, with the loan of Philippe Coutinho. Instead of transferring the 120 million euros contractually stipulated for a fixed purchase to Barcelona, Coutinho returned.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Photo:
GLYN KIRK / AFP
At Hudson-Odoi, however, Chelsea allegedly turned down the option, instead the Blues demanded a post-loan purchase obligation, which in turn Bayern did not want to get involved. The club was apparently not completely convinced by Hudson-Odoi.
Or did you even lack the necessary money?
After all, many high-value contracts have already been extended long-term this year, with Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller (each until 2023), with Alphonso Davies (until 2025). The decision in the poker negotiation with David Alaba is still pending. And then, of course, there’s Leroy Sané’s pledge, including the transfer of around 50 million plus bonus payments plus the maximum salary. On the other hand, there are lost sales as a result of the crown crisis. Bayern president Herbert Hainer estimated last week that the club lost around four million in every home game without spectators and that they are currently expecting a total of less than 100 million euros.
However, already wildly profitable Bayern made a lot of money last season in the Champions League, and due to the departures of Thiago, Ivan Perisic or Coutinho something should have come together, either through transfers or salary savings.
Why did Choupo-Moting arrive so late?
So why the Douglas Costa B solution? And after all, that doesn’t just apply to the Brazilian. Choupo-Moting, for example, has been available for a long time, that is, since his contract with PSG expired. It only came now after five competitive matches have been played. It could have provided relief for a few minutes here and there, and that certainly wouldn’t have hurt Bayern.
The answer to this question is probably in the past season. Last summer, the club handled a mega transfer of Lucas Hernández, who came from Atlético de Madrid for 80 million euros. The deciding factor for the most successful season was not so much the expensive Frenchman. But that coach Hansi Flick made the most of the existing team, and the loan transfers from Coutinho and Perisic. Neither of them always played, but when needed they delivered. In Lisbon’s epic 8-2 against Barcelona, they contributed three goals together without any of them passing. Subsequently, Munich has not committed either of the two.
With a regular team that can stay together for a few more years due to the age structure, supplemented by role players like Perisic, the Munich team has won three titles. Perhaps the Bavarian confidence in their own strength is now so pronounced that they simply no longer needed overly expensive transfers.
Bouna Sarr with the Marseille shirt
Photo:
NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
The prerequisites for this to work are not bad. Choupo-Moting will accept his role as a faithful substitute. He had already played a similar role in Paris, and he experienced his personal heroic moment when he launched PSG into the semi-finals of the Champions League with a late goal against Atalanta. Even Bouna Sarr, Benjamin Pavard’s compatriot, will probably not claim a regular spot on the right rear, while at the same time it should be a more reliable alternative to the latest loan from Álvaro Odriozola, whom Flick barely trusted and preferred to remove Joshua Kimmich from midfield when Pavard missed. . Sarr, 28, is four years older than Odriozola. Flick will probably find him more trustworthy than the talented Spaniard.
Douglas Costa may lose his greatest strength with increasing age, extremely high speed with the ball on his foot. At Juventus he was not a regular player recently. However, as an alternative to Sané, Serge Gnabry, and Kingsley Coman, it should work, especially since you don’t need to get used to. Bayern can certainly get over the fact that it won’t be a long-term solution on the outside offense. After all, none of his three competitors are over 25 years old. And behind them are talented young players like Jamal Musiala.
Bayern had already made a perfect transfer on Sunday: Marc Roca, European Under 21 champion with Spain 2019; the 23-year-old comes from Espanyol. It was said that the Munich team had taken an interest in Roca before, he is considered a technically good midfielder and at the same time strong. Sounds good, sounds promising. Roca, of all people, is likely to face particularly high expectations. In theory, he takes the place of Thiago, who has moved to Liverpool. And hardly anyone can replace that adequately.
