Konrad Laimer recently extended his contract with FC Bayern. Prior to that, there had been a prolonged tug-of-war over the Austrian’s signature. Now, the versatile defensive player has explained how he experienced the negotiations.
Signing the contract was important for the Austrian himself, but of course also for Bayern. On the one hand, to have certainty, and on the other hand, naturally, because both sides wanted to continue working together from the start.
Laimer received a moderate pay raise at FC Bayern, as had been hinted at previously. Initially, a demand for a significant increase in his base salary was on the table, but this was ultimately rejected as the talks progressed.
Laimer: “It’s a lot of fun here.”
Laimer is currently on an Asian tour with the FC Bayern squad and is now in South Korea. While there, he spoke about the negotiations with the record-holding champions’ management and provided insight into how he experienced them.
But first, he spoke about the tour itself: “We also have other commitments here that we have to take care of, but that’s just part of the game these days. In between, we have to prepare for training. We want to get some playing time and cover some ground here so we’ll be in top shape when the competitive matches begin.”
The Austrian emphasized that he didn’t perceive the talks themselves as particularly difficult. “Ultimately, I was always very relaxed about it. I’m happy that everything worked out and is now settled. It’s a lot of fun here with all the guys and the entire coaching staff. I’m ready to keep pushing forward and get even better,” Laimer explained.
He continued: “People write more about it than there actually is to it. But that’s just how the business works. I was always relaxed. For a long time, there was no contact at all; later, there was more, and then things moved quickly. As far as I’m concerned, there was never anything standing in the way—I wanted to keep playing here. It took a while to get the contract signed, partly because of the World Cup.”
When asked where he’ll play for Bayern in the future, the Austrian said: “I have no idea; I feel comfortable in many positions. Over the past two years, I’ve played a lot at right back, and sometimes at left back. I think I can help the team there with my strengths. I don’t care where I play—as long as I’m somewhere on the field.”