Joao Palhinha’s failure to move to FC Bayern is already one of the many strange stories surrounding Deadline Day. The Portuguese now admitted a situation that was not easy to deal with.
Joao Palhinha extended his contract with English Premier League club FC Fulham until 2028 in September. Nevertheless, he is repeatedly linked with a winter move to FC Bayern. “I don’t know what will happen in the future,” said the six-man at a press conference for the Portuguese national team before the European Championship qualifiers against Liechtenstein (November 16th) and Iceland (November 19th).
Palhinha already had one foot at FC Bayern in the summer and had already completed the medical check on the last day before the transfer deadline in Munich. However, since Fulham were unable to sign a replacement at such short notice, the deal fell through and Palhinha left again. Of course, it’s also bitter for FC Bayern, who started the season without further reinforcements and now have to improvise again and again due to the thin staffing levels.
“Of course it hit me and my family a lot,” said the 28-year-old about the failed transfer: “But it’s a thing of the past. I don’t want to think about it anymore.”
Palhinha: “I look to the future with this ambition”
Rather, he believes: “The future will tell me whether what happened happened for a specific reason. I want to continue on my path. I owe everything I have achieved so far to my work. Nobody gave me anything for free .”
At 28, Palhinha is by no means at the end of his potential. “I know that I can achieve even more. I look to the future with this ambition.”
Whether FC Bayern makes another offer for Joao Palhinha in the winter probably depends primarily on the price. Munich’s number one transfer priority is the search for a new central defender or right-back. Sports director Christoph Freund recently made it clear in “Sport Bild”: “Of course he is still on our radar.”