Uli Hoeneß has intervened in the contract poker between FC Bayern and Konrad Laimer with unusually clear words. The honorary president of the record champions made it clear that, in his view, the Austrian’s demands are not in the right proportion to his sporting role
Hoeneß initially made it clear how much he valued Laimer as a player, saying that the 28-year-old was an important part of the team, worked extremely hard for the team and also played an important role in terms of external image
But despite this praise, there was a clear caveat: „He’s not Maradona,“ Hoeneß told DAZN in no uncertain terms
With this statement, the Bayern patron gets to the heart of what he is all about: appreciation yes – but no excessive demands
Salary demands cause discussion
The debate has been triggered by the current contract talks between Laimer and FC Bayern. According to reports, the midfielder, who is now mainly used as a right-back, is demanding an annual salary of around €15 million
His current income, including bonuses, is around ten million euros, which is already a very high level for Bayern – especially in light of the recent contract extensions with top stars such as Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich
Internally, the club should therefore follow a clear line: not every wish will be fulfilled in future just to keep players
„Realistic assessment of the value“
Hoeneß emphasized that the discussion was not about a general savings policy, but about a fair assessment of the sporting and economic importance of a player. „This is a realistic assessment of his value,“ explained the 74-year-old
Although this is high, it is not at the level of the absolute top earners in the squad such as Harry Kane. Hoeneß is thus making it clear that FC Bayern wants to differentiate more strongly in future – both in sporting and financial terms
Regardless of the contract talks, it is clear that Laimer has taken a big step forward in sporting terms. Since his transfer from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023, he has developed into a permanent fixture under Vincent Kompany
His versatility, running ability and tactical discipline make him an important building block in Munich’s system. He is currently indispensable in the full-back positions in particular
Bayern tightens its course
Hoeneß‘ statements clearly show that a change in strategy is emerging at FC Bayern. After years in which top players were often kept on high salaries, the club now seems to be paying more attention to economic balance
The Laimer case is therefore setting a precedent, showing that even top performers will not automatically be promoted to the highest salary bracket in the future. It remains to be seen whether an agreement will ultimately be reached, but one thing is clear: Bayern have made their position clear
Konrad Laimer is valuable to the club – but not at any price.