Alaba, Boateng and Zirkzee - How Bayern Munich’s 2021-22 sales have performed this season

FT Desk

• 24 Mar 2022 07:12 CDT
• 9 min read

Bayern Munich are one of the smartest clubs in European football, with a bulging bank balance and a smart transfer policy to match it.

As such, the German giants have dominated the Bundesliga and picked up a number of European Cups through careful squad planning that involves buying and selling players at the right moment.

This season has been no different for the Munich side, who moved on a number of squad players to make room for new additions.

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Jerome Boateng - Lyon

Jerome Boateng certainly began to look his age last season for Bayern and while he may have picked up a decent amount of game time in France this time around, it seems as though Lyon have come to the same conclusion.

After being rewarded with a starting role in Peter Bosz’s side at the start of the season, 2022 has seen the German defender drop out of the team entirely after some poor performances and a falling out with his manager. This move hasn’t exactly gone to plan for the player or his club.

Michael Cuisance - Venezia

After failing to live up to the hype in Munich, Michael Cuisance was eventually sold to Venezia in January for a small fee and has been a regular starter for the Serie A club since then.

A muscle injury in early march has meant that the French midfielder has been out of action for the club’s last three league games, but he should be back in a starting role when he’s fit.

David Alaba - Real Madrid

There’s no doubt that Bayern were far from happy to let David Alaba go, following his pivotal role for the club at centre back. However, the player’s move to Real Madrid hasn’t exactly gone to plan either.

Alaba would have surely expected to play in central defence for Los Blancos, but he may not have expected to so in a team that quickly allowed Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane to move on just as he was arriving.

As such, while Alaba has put in plenty of solid performances for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, the team itself has looked rather hapless in defence in key games, such as the recent 4-0 defeat to Barcelona.

Javi Martinez - Qatar SC

Like Boateng, Javi Martinez was certainly coming to the end of his time at Bayern after struggling to keep up with the pace of the first time, but unlike his German counterpart the Spaniard instead opted for a move to the Middle East.

At Qatar SC, the former Spain international has picked up plenty of game time, with 25 appearances and no less than four goals this season.

Joshua Zirkzee - Anderlect (loan)

Bayern once held high hopes of young striker Joshua Zirkzee, but it remains to be seen whether the player has the ability to step up and make the grade in the club’s starting XI. As such he was sent out on loan to Belgian side Anderlecht last summer.

To the 20-year-old’s credit, Zirkzee has wasted no time at all in excelling in the Jupiler Pro League, with an impressive 13 goals and seven assists in just 30 games for the club. As well as four goals and assists in five cup games too.

Chris Richards - Hoffenheim (loan)

Another young star at Bayern who is doing impressively well on loan elsewhere is Chris Richards, who was sent to Hoffenheim in the summer and has become a key member of Sebastian Hoeneß’s squad.

Although Richards suffered a foot injury in early February and is still trying to reclaim his spot in the first team, Bayern will be delighted with the strides he has taken in German football under the guidance of one of their former youth coaches.

Alexander Nubel - Monaco (loan)

Alexander Nubel was signed from Schalke in 2020 as a potential replacement to Manuel Neuer, however the Germany No.1 has shown no signs of slowing down and was therefore forced to move on loan in the summer to pick up game time.

As such, that has meant a move to Monaco for the young shot-stopper from Paderborn, who has impressed in French football so well this season that reports in Germany and France have suggested that Nubel may look to make the move permanent in the summer.