Free transfer instead of a small sum?
©IMAGO
The article was first published at 11:46 and was updated with new information in the evening
Leon Goretzka may not be leaving FC Bayern for Madrid any time soon. After the sports newspaper “Marca” had reported that Atlético had agreed with Munich on a winter transfer for the midfielder, but on Thursday evening the signs were more likely to stay. “Sky” in Germany and “Relevo” in Spain reported that it looked like the 30-year-old midfielder would no longer be moving in January. Atlético still has time until February 2nd, the deadline day for the winter transfer market, to change Bayern’s mind. Otherwise, the Spaniards would work on a free transfer for Goretzka in the summer.
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Then the national player’s contract ends, which is why the transfer fee rumored for the winter was already manageable. According to “Marca”, the Rojiblancos, in the person of sporting director Mateu Alemany, who was in Munich at the beginning of the week, reduced this to 2 million to 3 million euros. Later we read of a maximum of 5 million euros. Bayern are said to have had 10 million euros in mind, which seems utopian given a rumored gross salary of 8.5 million euros for the duration of the second half of the season. If there is a change by the beginning of next week, the record champions are not planning to sign a replacement, according to Sky. The money saved should then flow into the expensive contract extensions with Harry Kane (32) or Dayot Upamecano (27).
If the transfer takes place, Goretzka would become Munich’s most valuable winter departure since market values were surveyed in 2004. So far it was Sandro Wagner who moved to Chinese club TJ Jinmen Tiger in January 2019 with a market value of 8 million euros. The national player is currently valued at 15 million euros.
Goretzka has played 292 games for the record champions so far, been directly involved in 95 goals and has won 13 titles since his free transfer from FC Schalke in the summer of 2018 – including the treble in 2019/20. He had his highest market value in 2021 at 70 million euros, since then he has received six devaluations while he slipped into the second tier as one of the top earners at Bayern. Atlético is said to be ready to cover Goretzka’s Bayern salary for the duration of the second half of the season. In addition, the Bochum homegrown player, who celebrates his 31st birthday on February 6th, has a contract dated until 2028.
Goretzka 4. Transfer between FC Bayern and Atlético Madrid
Goretzka would be the fourth transfer between Munich and Atlético. Lucas Hernández moved to Säbener Strasse in the summer of 2019 for a transfer fee of 80 million euros, a record purchase at the time. Before that, Mario Mandžukić moved from Bavaria to Madrid in 2014 for 22 million euros and Adolfo Valencia in 1994 for 2.25 million euros. For Goretzka it would be the first stop outside Germany. “A step out would also be a step for my personal development. Getting to know something new would enrich my life,” said Goretzka in an interview with “Zeit”. At Atlético he would be the replacement for Conor Gallagher, who moved to Tottenham for 40 million euros.
In the Bayern squad, even if Goretzka were to leave, the midfield would be strong with Aleksandar Pavlovic, Joshua Kimmich, Tom Bischof and Raphaël Guerreiro as well as Konrad Laimer, who can help out in the headquarters. There are also talents like David Santos Daiber and Felipe Chávez.
