Reports this week suggest that the Austrian is a transfer target for Pep Guardiola once he takes up his new post at Manchester City and Bayern must do all they can to prevent it
It certainly seems rich that Bayern Munich would throw around accusations of unfair behaviour when it comes to other teams being interested in their players. Bayern have long since made the Bundesliga their own personal fiefdom, plucking whatever domestic star they fancy and weakening opposition forces for good measure.
Bayern seem to be sufficiently concerned about the possibility of losing one of their stars to Manchester City once Pep Guardiola decamps for the Etihad Stadium, so much so that they’ve spoken out about it.
"This is not allowed to happen,” honorary president Franz Beckenbauer told Bild this week. “If that’s the case, it's not right but I don't think Guardiola would do that.”
Guardiola, of course, has unlimited access to a list of potential City transfer targets in his Bayern squad that could be described as the envy of world football. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the Bayern CEO, claims, though, that his outgoing coach has not tried to talk David Alaba into ditching Munich for Manchester. Furthermore, Bayern used their Champions League pre-match press conference to further dampen down speculation linking the Austria international with Eastlands.
“There has been no offer from Manchester City for David Alaba,” press director Markus Horwick told the media on Tuesday. That was in response to a Bild report that suggested Guardiola would move for the 23-year-old when he takes up the reins at City.
Plans are ongoing at Bayern for a contract extension for Alaba. Coming in the wake of pre-Christmas renewals for Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez, Bayern are tying down this generation of peak players until 2021.
A new deal would add three more years to Alaba's current terms with a 100 per cent pay rise thrown in for good measure. Bayern have wanted Alaba to sign new terms since last summer and are reportedly willing to give him around €10 million per season to do so. Alaba’s father George and his agent Robert Schneider met with Bayern last week, and a breakthrough is reported to have taken place. As such, the future of Alaba looks relatively certain and it's not likely to be beside Pep.
But if the Spaniard is chasing Alaba then it is for good reason. He is one of Guardiola’s most important players and it’s no surprise to see his name linked with City. Guardiola took Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona to Bayern upon his appointment there and coaches like their own players in the dressing room.
"I think every club in the world would like to have David Alaba,” good friend and team-mate Franck Ribery said this week. "But he has a feel for Bayern, he is a key player for Bayern. I would be happy if he signs a new contract. For me he is one of the best left-backs in the world."
Alaba is the man holding Bayern together at the moment given the depth of their defensive injuries. Boateng, Martinez and Holger Badstuber remain on the treatment table in Bavaria, meaning Alaba is demonstrating his flourishing capabilities at centre-back. It’s no trouble to him.
Alaba is a player who defies categorisation; a total footballer. He was indeed among the world’s best left-backs without notionally being a left-back. He is perfect for that role in a Guardiola team. He exemplifies Guardiola’s policy of midfielders everywhere better than anyone, combining finely-honed defensive abilities when out of possession with a playmaker’s capability of dictating the tempo of the game when on the ball.
More than that, he always knows where to be for a pass in what, at times, can be a complex system. He’s needed to cover the centre of defence currently and he’s excelling there too. He’s more than a stopper, though. He’s one more player to find the right pass and make sure Bayern stay meaningfully in possession.
Alaba is the greatest all-round player on the planet. Not just a left-back, not just a centre-back and not just a central midfielder for that matter. He is a footballer first and foremost with a unique intuition and adaptability that marks him out as irreplaceable.
Bayern know it… and Pep knows it too.
- Goal