Bayern Munich feared Michael Olise message could signal Real Madrid move

Max Eberl has revealed he hesitated before opening a WhatsApp message from Michael Olise because he feared the Bayern Munich forward might be contacting him about a move to Real Madrid.

Olise was widely reported to be Real Madrid’s leading transfer target this summer, creating genuine anxiety at Bayern during a period when the player and the German club were exchanging messages.

However, Bayern’s sporting director told German newspaper Bild that the France international, 24, never asked to leave the club for Real Madrid despite the strength of the speculation linking him with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

“Olise never asked me, not once, to leave Bayern Munich and move to Real Madrid, and yet the fear was there,” Eberl said.

He then described an exchange that reflected the tension inside Bayern’s management during the most recent World Cup.

“Michael sent me a WhatsApp message during the World Cup. I hesitated for a moment before opening it. I wasn’t sure whether he was really going to talk to me about the Real Madrid issue. But it was a picture with Manu Kone, whom I had previously signed for Borussia Monchengladbach, with a heart drawn underneath it. They were both sending me greetings from the United States,” Eberl added with a laugh.

The conversation between Eberl and Olise later turned to the shirt number the forward might wear in the following season. Eberl asked whether he wanted to take the number 11 shirt, but Olise preferred to keep number 17.

“I later asked Michael whether he wanted to wear number 11 next season, but he wanted to keep number 17. That was the way Michael and I communicated, so everything was always fine,” Eberl said.

Olise joined Bayern Munich after establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most creative attacking players, and the club has now made its position on his longer-term future clear. His current contract runs until 2029, but Eberl confirmed Bayern want to extend the agreement.

The sporting director also stated that the contract contains no release clause, meaning there is no fixed fee that would allow another club to sign Olise automatically.

“Michael has developed exceptionally well with us. We will sit down and discuss the next steps at the right time. He still has three years left on his contract, and I would like to emphasise that there is no release clause. Let me make that clear: by next summer, we will know whether he wants to renew or not,” Eberl concluded.

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