Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and FC Bayern had to experience which sums some clubs now have to pay and thus cut out FCB. Rummenigge therefore calls for a reform in the transfer system.
The Bundesliga and in particular FC Bayern have had to painfully experience this summer how far the English Premier League has now been financially hurried. Players like Florian Wirtz or Nick Woltemade left Germany’s highest division and thus succumbed to the call of the financially strong English clubs.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge observes this development with concern. The former CEO of FC Bayern, who is currently still on the supervisory board of the record champions, therefore calls for a change in the transfer system in “Blickpunkt Sport” on BR television.
Rummenigge over Woltemade transfer: “Have found an idiot”
At Wirtz, the Munich flashes with a 100 million requirement, the Leverkusener went to Liverpool for 125 million. For Woltemade, they were not ready to pay more than 65 million euros. The people responsible in Munich did not want to believe that VfB Stuttgart for a new international who had just had a good Bundesliga season including impressive U21 European Championship, called up such a high price.
In the end, Newcastle paid almost 90 million for the service of the storm talent. “I can only congratulate you in Stuttgart that you have found an idiot in quotes that pays so much money because we would certainly not have done that,” Rummenigge commented on the Woltemade Posse on Sunday evening.
Rummenigge: “Can’t keep being higher every year, and further”
On BR television, Rummenigge asked FIFA and UEFA to bring all clubs to a table. “We have to find a solution. We cannot go higher every year, ever more, and faster. The salaries and the transfer sums have increased rapidly in recent years. In the style, you cannot continue to work seriously,” Rummenigge becomes clear.
As a reason, the long -time chairman of the European Club Association (ECA) sees the financial possibilities by external donors. “In England you now have billionaires or partly states that have clubs, such as Saudi Arabia or Qatar or Paris Saint-Germain. And then you have to play and keep up in the European Cup. And then you are still asking you to win this competition in between,” Echtfierf, Rummenigge.
Rummenigge calls for changes in the financial fair play
In order to limit this influence by investors, UEFA introduced the Financial FairPlay in 2015. This is intended to ensure that the clubs do not spend significantly more than they take and thus take over financially. The clubs are currently allowed to reinvest 70 percent of their income in salaries and transfers. For Rummenigge this is still too much: “We have to down to 60, ideally even 55 percent. Because everything more than 55 also means that you will lose money. Football cannot be the only industry worldwide in which only money is lost.” The clubs should already be able to meet their financial obligations.
Rummenigge: “Not that someone runs directly to the European Court of Justice”
At the same time, the former world-class professional and today’s official also take on the player side. “The players and the consultants also have to be careful not to build a trap. The money has to come from somewhere and that comes by increasing competitions or creating new competitions.”
Rummenigge would therefore welcome a round table between the club and player side. “We should sit down at a table and then we should discuss what you can do together. Not that someone will run and complain to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg immediately after the meeting.” In the past, player advisors had as in Lassana Diarra case or the Bosman judgment in front of the ECJ Get right.
In Munich, they hope that these conversations will be successful and bring reforms. Otherwise, FC Bayern will face similar transfer summer in the future.
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Source: SPORT 28.09.2025 – 9:45 p.m.
