When will Dayot Upamecano finally make up his mind? This question is not only being asked quietly at FC Bayern, but more and more urgently. The Frenchman has had an offer ready to sign for weeks – but there is still no commitment
From FC Bayern’s point of view, the situation is difficult to understand. The record champions have gone a long way in talks with Dayot Upamecano, in some cases to the financial pain threshold. The framework conditions are right, both in sporting and economic terms. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old is still keeping Munich on tenterhooks
According to information from SPORT1, there is growing irritation behind the scenes, particularly in the supervisory board, about the ongoing delaying tactics. Upamecano himself is keeping a low profile and regularly refers to his advisor, who is doing a good job and does not want to say any more. A clear trend or even a commitment to FC Bayern has not yet emerged
Under Vincent Kompany, Upamecano has stabilised, appears more consistent than ever and is one of the absolute fixtures in the center of defence. The coach himself has recently made no secret of how highly he rates the Frenchman. „Since I’ve been here, Upa has been very, very consistent. If he has to pick a phase of his career in which he was so good, I believe that this is his best phase,“ emphasised Kompany. More appreciation is hardly possible
Eberl more cautious – memories of the Kimmich poker
It is noticeable that the tone has also changed at management level. While sporting director Max Eberl was demonstratively optimistic for a long time, he now sounds much more reserved. „We have said: We are waiting for Upa’s answer, that is the only thing that counts. And we are waiting for that,“ Eberl explained recently. Words that sound sober – and at the same time show how sensitive the situation has become
After the Champions League match against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Eberl had already been conspicuously tight-lipped. In Munich, they obviously want to avoid saying the wrong thing so as not to jeopardize the deal. At the same time, the desire for planning security is growing – especially with regard to squad planning for next summer
CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen had already made it clear at the beginning of the year that patience is not unlimited. His chewing gum comparison – chew too long and the taste will eventually be gone – was a clear message. Even then, it was already said that the current offer would no longer be improved
The parallels to the Joshua Kimmich contract case are obvious. The international also took his time, and the pressure from the bosses became more noticeable at some point. There was never an official ultimatum, but the direction was clear. It is quite possible that Bayern will now also have to make clearer announcements with Upamecano
The centre-back is currently absent due to illness, with a virus doing the rounds in the team. However, this is unlikely to play a role in the decision about his future. In Munich, they are not waiting for him to return to the pitch – but for him to sign. And the question remains: What does Dayot Upamecano actually still want?