Rummenigge praises Zirkzee: "He scored important goals for us."
While taking care to note that a decision on whether to pull a buyback clause rested with Bayern's active sporting management, former FCB CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge praised Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee's development in a recent interview with Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport.
Newly installed Bayern chief personnel executive Max Eberl will - thanks to the inclusion of a buy-back clause in the deal that sent the 22-year-old to FC Bologna in the summer of 2022 - have to the option to bring Joshua Zirkzee back to FC Bayern München this summer as part of his post-season rebuild. Reports that the German record champions were considering re-obtaining the young Dutchman have been circulating since January.
Zirkzee has been linked with multiple clubs thanks to a successful season with his Serie A side; one that has seen him amass 14 scorer points and pump his estimated market worth up to €30 million. Bayern - with the cooperation of the player - will nevertheless retain the right of first refusal. Zirkzee has four Bundesliga goals to his credit in 12 appearances with the Bayern senior side.
If it were up to former Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, current FCB board-member-for sport Max Eberl would do well to bring the Dutch youth international back. In an interview with Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport, the 68-year-old praised Zirkzee's impressive performances during the famous "six-trophy-year" (2019/20 season inclusive the 2021-played Club World Cup) under head-coach Hans Dieter Flick.
"I remember my last year as CEO," the 68-year-old told the Italian daily, "He played well and when Flick put him on the pitch, he always scored decisive goals, not the fourth or fifth [inconsequential] goals. He won us important matches."
"I'm happy for him that he's doing well," Rummenigge continued, "I've always seen him play well for us. His bad luck was that he had someone like Lewandowski in front of him."
Rummenigge insisted that he would "not interfere" in the coming summer workload of newly installed Bayern board-member-for-sport Max Eberl. Along with fellow retired colleague Uli Hoeneß, Rummenigge was called back into action to work the FCB front office this past summer after Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic were both sacked at the end of last season.
For his part, Eberl is on record as saying that Zirkzkee will factor into his summer strategy. Asked about a potential (reported €40 million) buyback option, Eberl noted that he believed Zirkzee to have "tremendous qualities". Even if Bayern don't opt to re-sign him, they will accrue some cash as part of the re-sale options Salihamidzic built into the Bologna deal.