Bayern Munich will not enter into a bidding war for star players, the German champions’ president Uli Hoeness said, describing skyrocketing transfer prices as “madness”.
“I don’t want to buy a player for €150 or €200 million, I don’t want to join in such madness. That’s something that we will refuse totally at Bayern,” Hoeness told SID in Singapore, where the club is on tour for exhibition matches.
The five-time European champions are even willing to lower their ambitions.
Hoeness said the Bundesliga giants “could not set as a goal” winning the Uefa Champions League as long as “such madness is gripping the transfer market”.
“Our goal is to be German league champions and to go as far as possible in the German Cup. And to play in the Champions League. We are among the three, four best teams in Europe and any of these three, four teams can win the Champions League,” he said.
According to media reports, Paris Saint-Germain are seeking to poach Brazilian forward Neymar from Barcelona for €222 million (Dh938m). Real Madrid reportedly has a deal in principle to buy French striker Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for €180m.
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The record transfer fees have been bankrolled by sky-high television rights, and a growing appetite in emerging leagues like China seeking to lure players away with spectacular sums.
In comparison, Bayern have been conservative in the transfer market.
Among newcomers are James Rodriguez, who has arrived on loan with a buy option. The club has also recruited 22-year-old French midfielder Corentin Tolisso for €47.5m.
Hoeness sounded a warning against a backlash if the inflationary trend continued in the transfer market.
“I wonder if spectators will accept this in the long-term and managers too should ask if all this is reasonable.”
Hoeness added that the club would unveil the name of a new sport director “in the coming weeks” to fill the post left vacant after Mathias Sammer departed a year ago.
