Hasan Salihamidzic is looking forward to the forthcoming move from Ajax professional Noussair Mazraoui to FC Bayern Munich. “We are very happy that he has decided to go with us for the next few years.”
“There are still a few things to be done, but he is a player who will help us and strengthen our team,” said FC Bayern’s sports director to “Münchner Merkur” and “tz”.
The signing is “on its last legs. It looks very good. He’s a player who has really performed very well in recent years. Someone who brings something refreshing, who puts a lot of pressure forward. We know how difficult the right-back market is. He’s the type of player that was wanted by all of Europe,” said Salihamidzic.
Nagelsmann hopes for new stimulus points in the squad
As the “Kicker” reports, Munich and the 24-year-old defender have agreed on a four-year contract until June 30, 2026. The Moroccan international’s arrival has been in the offing for some time. He is free of charge as his contract at Ajax Amsterdam expires this summer.
After Borussia Dortmund’s transfer offensive, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann can now plan his first signing for the new season. BVB had brought national defender Niklas Süle from Munich, Nico Schlotterbeck (SC Freiburg) and Karim Adeyemi (RB Salzburg), which is opposed to the expected departure of Erling Haaland to Manchester City. Nagelsmann had admitted “a few construction sites” in the Bayern squad. He wouldn’t mind “if we bought one or two counter-pressing machines,” as the 34-year-old said with a wink. He hopes for new stimulus points in the squad.
Further additions are to follow
In addition to Mazraoui, his teammate Ryan Gravenberch is also set to move from Amsterdam to Munich. The clubs still have to agree on a transfer fee. The 19-year-old midfielder is under contract with Ajax until 2023. According to “Sport Bild”, Borna Sosa (24) from VfB Stuttgart and Konrad Laimer (24) from RB Leipzig should also be on Nagelsmann’s wish list.
Mazraoui could close the gap on the right side of defence, where Bayern have been looking for a convincing personnel solution since Hansi Flick’s days as coach. World champion Benjamin Pavard, who also plays on the right in the French national team, has been pushing into central defense for a long time. A commitment from Mazraoui allows Nagelsmann to plan more in the center of defense with Pavard.
Budget challenges
“Sport Bild” also reports on a “tense relationship” between Nagelsmann and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic. It is “above all about different expectations and opposing views in the formation of the squad”. Even with Nagelsmann’s predecessor Flick, there had been differences between him and the sports director on squad issues.
Salihamidzic recently pointed out the budget challenges. “We don’t have an infinite amount of money. We have extended some contracts. We tried to keep the core of the team,” said Salihamidzic and explained with a view to access: “We have to see what is possible. We want to be creative and have ideas.”
On Sabitzer: “We believe in the player”
Salihamidzic reported on a conversation with Marcel Sabitzer’s (28) agent after a disappointing first season in Munich. The Austrian switched from RB Leipzig to Bayern in the summer. A fee of 15 million euros was speculated.
“We had a very good conversation. Sure, Marcel didn’t have a good season. But he didn’t have an ideal start either, and struggling with a long-term calf injury, among other things, only joined the team late in the summer,” said Salihamidzic. “We believe in the player. By preparing for the coming season, we want him to regain his former strength.”
Salihamidzic did not go into detail about Leipzig professional Konrad Laimer (24), who is associated with the Munich team. “He’s a player from RB Leipzig. In principle, we don’t comment on professionals who are under contract with other clubs,” said the Munich sports director.
Source: dpa