FC Bayern’s right-back
With Matthijs de Ligt (23) and Lucas Hernández (27), FC Bayern already has the most expensive central defender duo in the world in the squad – with loan player João Cancelo (28), the most expensive full-back in football history could be added by clause.
The purchase option for the Manchester City professional is said to be 70 million euros and according to the “kicker” it is considered impossible for the Munich team to pull this. “We haven’t decided yet, we haven’t even talked about it yet. We’ll do that after the season,” said Hasan Salihamidzic of “Evening News“. The sports director also commented on the personal details of Noussair Mazraoui (25) and Benjamin Pavard (27).
Five times over 100 million euros: The most expensive central defender duos 2022/23
In the past few weeks, Cancelo was one of the starting line-up and proved his class. “He’s a top player, technically a feast for the eyes,” said Salihamidzic. That doesn’t change the fact that hardly any club is willing to pay 70 million euros for a 29-year-old defender. Only three times more was paid for footballers over the age of 29: Casemiro (Man Utd), Zinédine Zidane (Real Madrid) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) – for the statistics.
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The situation is clearer at Pavard, whose working paper, which is only valid until 2024, has been an issue for months. “We are in talks with him and his advisors. It’s up to him. Of course I’d really like to keep him here. He has to say in which direction things are going,” reveals Salihamidzic. Bayern want to avoid a situation like in previous years with Niklas Süle (27, BVB) and David Alaba (30, Real Madrid), with whom they entered the last year of their contract. Both Süle and Alaba decided against signing and switched free of charge – a first for the record champions. Pavard came from VfB Stuttgart for 35 million euros in 2019 and, together with de Ligt, is the Bayern Munich defender in the best form this season.
Mazraoui, who was brought in on a free transfer from Ajax Amsterdam in the summer and was not used enough for his taste, has also had an upward trend recently. “Before the World Cup I was in the starting eleven, now I’m fit and don’t get any playing time. I’m not even second or third choice,” Mazraoui complained almost four weeks ago. As a result, the full-backs Alphonso Davies (22) and Josip Stanisic (23) were injured and the Moroccan took his chance.
“He has played very well in recent weeks and repaid the coach’s trust,” said Salihamidzic. The future of the Moroccan also depends on the decisions made by Cancelo and Pavard. Because if Hernández returns after a long injury and moves into central defence, Pavard would probably want to play in his preferred position at right-back, where Mazraoui and Cancelo are currently also cavorting. “If you see what’s going on in the full-back market, we’re very happy to have him,” Salihamidzic clarified, wanting to keep Ajax’s access longer.
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