Bayern must accept Alaba is leaving, says Oliver Kahn

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:47 CDT
• 2 min read

Bayern legend Oliver Kahn believes the club must accept that David Alaba will leave the club for the next step in his career.

Alaba’s current deal at the Allianz Arena runs out in the summer of 2021 and despite numerous negotiations and compromises between the player and the club, no new contract has been agreed.

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The Austrian will be available to talk to other clubs about a free transfer in the summer from 1 January, while Bayern could attempt to cash in on him in the winter transfer window, too.

Negotiations between Alaba and Bayern haven’t been particularly healthy either, with reports that he wanted to become one of the club’s highest paid players on par with the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Manuel Neuer.

Former president Uli Hoeness then labelled Alaba’s agent as a “piranha” only interested in money, which upset the player and his representatives.

After a final deal was put on the table and rejected, Bayern stepped away from negotiations.

Kahn, who is in line to replace Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as Bayern president in 2021, believes the club must now accept Alaba’s wishes.

“David has been with FC Bayern for twelve years, ten of them as a professional. As it stands, he is changing his career. We have to accept that,” he told Sport Bild.

The news that Alaba will not be signing a new deal with Bayern alerted several of Europe’s top clubs to his availability, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Juventus, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man Utd, and Man City.

FootballTransfers previously looked at some of Alaba’s main options for his next career move.