Bundesliga News

Rummenigge opens up on Alaba's contract situation and Thiago's emotional goodbye

By Henrik Petersen

Bayern München chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has provided an update on the uncertainty surrounding David Alaba's future and opened up on Thiago Alcantara's tearful farewell to the club.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.Photo: Michael Lucan, CC-by-SA 3.0
In an interview with Sky on Sunday, Bayern München CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge gave an update on the club's contract talks with David Alaba and reflected on Thiago Alcantara's emotional goodbye.


Alaba has been stalling on a contract extension with one year left on his current deal, but Rummenigge has far from given up hope that the 28-year-old will stay at Allianz Arena.

"I'm a not a friend of discussing contract negotiations in public," Rummenigge said and added:

"You have to approach things in a relaxed, trusting and discreet way. Everyone at FC Bayern want David Alaba to stay. He has been with us for 12 years now and has developed into one of our top players. He's also a very good person."

Bayern München honorary president Uli Hoeness caused a few raised eyebrows when he blasted Alaba's agent, Pini Zahavi, describing him as a 'greedy piranha'.

Rummenigge, however, insists there is no problem between the club and the Israeli. super-agent


"He's also the agent of Robert Lewandowski, and we managed to find an agreement with him last year. Of course we will have new talks and see if we can find a solution that suits both sides," said Rummenigge.

The Bayern chief then went on to reflect on the departure of Thiago Alcantara, who recently left Allianz Arena to join Liverpool.

After enjoying seven seasons in Munich, Thiago was grateful to the club for allowing him to take on a new challenge in England.

"After his transfer was finalised on Thursday, Thiago was waiting for me in the parking lot. At first, I was was thinking, 'What is he doing here now?,' but then he came up to me, hugged me for five minutes, cried and said, 'Thank you for letting me do this," Rummenigge said and continued:

"Thiago is a great person and was always a first-class player for Bayern München. Especially during the Champions League final tournament in Lisbon, he proved his quality. That he is leaving us now is a great loss. Nevertheless, we accepted that we wanted to try something new. He has behaved brilliantly."


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