Rummenigge: “I read about Barcelona's debts and I almost choked”

The word of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, top manager of Bayern Munich, worth its weight in gold in the Bavarian capital. On the occasion of the closing of the winter market, the president of the board of directors of the current champion of the Champions League appeared before the cameras of the television channel Sky Sport News, in which, in addition to talking about the rumors that place Upamecano in his club and Alaba in Real Madrid, he was also very concerned with the exorbitant debt that FC Barcelona piles up. These are the issues on which Rummenigge spoke:

Bayern Shield / Flag

Barcelona debts

If Bayern had that debt, I couldn't sleep peacefully at night. But I don't think it's going to change anything. A club like Barcelona is not just going to sink for the enormous value it has for a region like Catalonia. Of course, I deeply regret that clubs can get into debt in this way. At Bayern, we were and continue to be model children taking into account what happens in Barcelona or in Italy, where salaries are no longer even paid. Here we pursue sporting success, on the one hand, and economic stability, on the other. I read about Barcelona's debts while having breakfast and I almost choked.

Negotiations with Real Madrid

Florentino has not contacted us for Alaba. Nor is it that I have to. From January 2, the player is free to sign where he wants. That's how FIFA rules dictate, that's how the business works. I don't know to what extent the negotiations with Real Madrid have advanced, all I know is that this is a great club. It does not matter that he is living a difficult time and has not been as successful in recent years as he was used to, it is still a great club and you have to understand the player.

Failed renewal

Here I have to defend Hasan Salihamidzic (sporting director). He begins to establish conversations with the player's environment in February 2020, that is, exactly one year ago. There was plenty of time and we have to disprove the fairy tales that exist about it. We put a lot of money on the table, an amount that, yes, in the end apparently was not enough to convince him. These are things we must accept. We are talking about a player who has had great value for us for more than twelve years, so there is no problem. In summer, we will part ways amicably.

Farewell

I shed the odd tear when I said goodbye to Thiago last summer And I don't rule out the same thing happening if I run into David the day he has to leave.

Upamecano

Due to the departure of Alaba, we feel the need to fill the gap that it will leave in our staff and we are convinced that Upamecano is a footballer capable of this. We maintain a good relationship with Volker Struth, his representative, who also comes from making it clear that Bayern are not the only team interested in taking over their services. As he says, there are at least two international level competitors for the player, so we have to wait to see how things evolve. Yes, he was about to land at Bayern when he decided to leave France, but at that time he was not fully prepared for the challenge and decided to join the ranks of Salzburg. Perhaps he was right with that decision, to this day he is a most interesting footballer in that position.

Fans return to stadiums

I am optimistic that Let's get a chance in the spring to play with amateurs again. It may not be 100% of the capacity, but the more people are vaccinated, the more light will be seen at the end of the tunnel.