Bayern Munich: Club Reset & Future Strategy

In our column “green space”, Oliver Fritsch, Christof Siemes, Stephan Reich and Christian Spiller write alternately about the football world and the world of football. This article is part of time on the weekend, issue 36/2025.

The following sentence, the following sentence has to be swiveled a little back and forth in the brain so that it unfolds its entire aroma, roughly as you swing a good wine before you try it:

“But we as Bayern Munich are also very, very strong and are aware of our role.”

This sentence has spoken, which is not at all like this
FC Bayern Munich Sounds, FC Bayern sports director Christoph Freund a few days ago. Nick Woltemade had just switched from VfB Stuttgart to Newcastle United, i.e. the Woltemade, who in turn wanted to go to Bayern, which VfB did not allow for the offered 60 million euros. Schwupps, came the new -rich United, put 85 million euros on the table and Woltemade went to the island. What friend apparently – consciously or not – prompted the big FC Bayern to make the big, inconspicuous word “and” and “also” quite small compared to Newcastle.

Briefly remembered: FC Bayern Munich is a 34-fold German champion and has won the premier class six times. Newcastle United was last English champion in 1927 Champions League United took part four times at all.

“But we as Bayern Munich are also very, very strong. ” – In view of the way the Bavarian transfer summer has gone, Freund reminds you strongly of someone who calls on the onlookers: “Please go on, there is nothing to see here”. While everything flares in the background. Sure, it was a difficult transfer phase for practically all German clubs. Breaked deals here, horrendous prices there – the Premier League
If financially, it is so divided that it floods the market with money that the other nations simply do not have.

You can tell in Frankfurt when a 22-year-old replacement striker from Newcastle does not come because he should cost 30 million. You can tell in Dortmund when two players from the second row of Chelseas and Manchester Citys cost 20 million euros each. You can see that from all other clubs that cannot even think about such transfers. However, Bayern are the only club for which baking smaller rolls is more than just that: it means a loss of status.

Which is why the question arises whether friend of the role of Bavaria is currently so aware. Because this is changing rapidly. Ten ago, even five years ago, the absolute top top top player of the planet once cost 80 million euros, the Ronaldos and Zidanes. Today – without now disrespectful – a Woltemade, a Benjamin Sesko, costs a Bryan Mbumo, which I did not even know until honestly. Because any English club comes around the corner anyway and opens the postage of postage.

“The flood lifts all boats,” said Bundesliga-Althauer Heribert Bruchhagen. This no longer applies in 2025. The Premier League earns ten times the Bundesliga in the foreign marketing, behind practically every club there is a rich owner or a state fund, and the clubs seem to work out the coal year after year. And all other boats drink.

In the case of Bavaria, this means that to get a Wirtz for 125 million euros is not a thing for Liverpool, for Bayern it would have been the transfer of the decade. Xavi Simmons preferred to go to Tottenham for 65 million euros, the briefly traded Randal Kolo Muani. In the end, Nicolas Jackson came from Chelsea, for 16 million euros. Rental fee, mind you. Not a bad one, but is it so good that Bayern will pull the purchase option next summer and will pay over 80 million euros for him in total?

If FC Bayern wants a player, he gets him too, it is such a winged word of Criticism Honeßßßß. But that also no longer applies. Because the times when you got players like Arjen Robben, Franck Ribéry or Luca Toni for 25 million euros, who could also make a difference internationally. For example, Jonny Burkardt and Ritsu Doan could have been fetched this summer, both good players for the Bundesliga. But in the Champions League, whose profit, if we are honest, is the actual season goal of Bayern?

Which is why Bavaria can be found in a strange situation: they remain a light year of the national competition, financially and therefore also sporty; Who else could put 75 million euros in the league for Luis Diaz? In order to play a role internationally, it would have needed three or four of these transfers. There, the Newcastles, Tottenhams and Liverpools spoiled the prices. How many transfer periods will still be before the financial imbalance is finally reflected. Or has it not already? Since the title win 2020, Bayern failed four times in the quarter -finals of the Champions League, once only moved into the semi -finals. In other words, Bayern are too good for their league, but not (more) good enough for them. You are a justified Simon Terodde.

And possibly also dawns at Bavaria. Perhaps friend, whose words may not have been so careless, but deliberately chosen. Above all, Uli Hoeneß, who said after the transfer window was closed, he was “completely stunned” and the sums paid was “completely gaga”. And the new international role of FC Bayern described: “I am looking forward to this coming season because we like Hoffenheim to the upcoming Champions League season. Nobody expects us”. A few years ago, this would have been a completely unthinkable FC Bavaria set. Now he seems reality.

Then a good wine.