Transfers of minors are a hot topic in football. FC Bayern is also looking in many age groups and is facing headwind.
In recent years, FC Bayern has not only made scouting more international, but also intensified it in the junior area. Players under the age of 16 are also observed and signed up if the opportunity arises.
The age of the youngsters plays a subordinate role, it’s more about not losing out in the “battle for talent”.
FC Bayern signs three talents from Mainz 05
As it became known this week, Bayern have signed three young players from league rivals Mainz 05 in one fell swoop. Particularly curious: FCB has not yet officially confirmed the transfers, the players themselves did so via Instagram and TikTok.
As the three young brothers Ari (14), Aviel (12) and Alex Hentcho Nseke (9) announced, they will play in the junior division at FC Bayern with immediate effect.
“It’s all madness”
Bayern’s transfer hat-trick caused a stir. The Munich supporters were also criticized by their own supporters on social media and online. A user wrote on the Bayern fan portal “FCBinside”: “I feel sorry for the boys, it’s all crazy.”
Many fans do not understand that children of this age are already seen as transfer targets. They describe the change as harmful to the development of the children, as they are torn out of their social environment: “Let the kids develop in their usual environment, at 17, 18 they can still change clubs. And Mainz is yes not an amateur club,” one FCB fan made clear.
Clubs like FC Bayern are obviously less concerned about that. They hope for “the big hit”. Probably the most prominent example is the six-time world footballer Lionel Messi, who moved from Argentina to the youth department of FC Barcelona at the tender age of 13 and rose to become a world star there. Messi has not only brought numerous sporting successes to the Catalans, but he has also been an absolute hit for Barca financially.