No bidding wars for star players for us, says Bayern

SINGAPORE - Bayern Munich will not enter into a bidding war for star footballers, the German champions’ boss Uli Hoeness said, describing skyrocketing transfer prices as “madness”.

“I don’t want to buy a player for €150 million (S$238 million) or €200 million, I don’t want to join in such madness. That’s something that we will refuse totally at Bayern,” Hoeness told AFP’s sports subsidiary SID in Singapore, where the club is on tour for exhibition matches.

The five-time Champions League winner is even willing to lower its ambitions.

Hoeness said the Bundesliga giant “could not set as a goal” a victory at the 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 is seeking to poach Brazilian forward Neymar from FC Barcelona for €222 million. Real Madrid reportedly has a deal in principle to buy French attacker Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for €180 million.

The record transfer fees have been bankrolled by sky-high television rights, and a growing appetite in emerging leagues including China which are seeking to lure stars away with spectacular sums.

In comparison, Bayern has 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 €47.5 million, bonus included.

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,” noted the Bayern boss on the sidelines of an SAP event.

Hoeness added that the club would unveil the name of its new sport director “in coming weeks” to fill the post left vacant after Mathias Sammer departed a year ago.

German media report that former Dutch international Mark van Bommel and ex-star attacker for Germany, Miroslav Klose, are likely candidates. AFP