The discussions surrounding Jamal Musiala at FC Bayern show no signs of ending. After Uli Hoeneß recently publicly expressed doubts about the offensive star’s future performance, Oliver Kahn has now weighed in. The former CEO of the record-holding champions has sharply criticized the honorary president’s remarks and raised a fundamental question about how the club handles injured players.
On LinkedIn, Kahn responded to Hoeneß’s latest comments, in which Hoeneß had addressed Musiala’s health situation and his lucrative contract. The 23-year-old is currently sidelined with a torn muscle fiber in his left thigh. In addition, the national team player is suffering from a neurological dysfunction.
For Kahn, it is clear that when it comes to long-term contracts, a club not only benefits from a player’s performance but must also bear the associated risks. The former Bayern boss apparently believes this aspect is not being given enough consideration in the current discussion.
Kahn contradicts Hoeneß in no uncertain terms
“A club shouldn’t act as if fulfilling a contract it signed itself were an act of exceptional humanity. The club didn’t just buy the player’s performance. It also bought the risk,” Kahn wrote on LinkedIn.
In doing so, the 57-year-old indirectly contradicts Hoeneß’s account, as Hoeneß had recently placed particular emphasis on the ongoing salary payments to Musiala.
The Bayern honorary president had expressed concern about the offensive player’s athletic future on the BR program “Sonntags-Stammtisch.”
Hoeneß described the situation as a “dilemma” and explained: “But he’s still getting paid.”
He then elaborated: “Just imagine if FC Bayern were to question his contract now and say, ‘What he’s capable of now is no longer what was stipulated in the contract.’”
The background to this is the uncertainty over whether Musiala will be able to permanently return to his former level of performance following his health issues.
“Does the club stand by the player, or just by his contract?”
Kahn makes it clear that he can generally understand internal discussions about Musiala’s situation. After all, those in charge must also consider the financial implications of long-term player contracts.
What matters most, however, is how the club handles its player in the public eye. “Does the club stand by the player, or just by his contract?” asks the former Bayern CEO.
In doing so, Kahn focuses less on the financial obligations and more on the club’s attitude toward its injured star player.
Musiala had signed a long-term contract extension with FC Bayern and is one of the highest-paid players on the roster. The Munich club had thus made a conscious decision to commit to a long-term partnership.
For Kahn, this decision apparently includes seeing the team through difficult phases together.
The Musiala debate continues to cause unrest
The former Bayern boss’s latest statements are likely to further fuel the discussions at Säbener Straße.
Hoeneß’s previous public comments about Musiala’s contract and his health situation had already caused some friction.
The issue is no longer solely about when the attacking player will be able to return to the field. Rather, there is growing discussion about how FC Bayern is handling one of its most important players during a difficult phase.
Kahn has now taken a clear stance on the matter. For him, fulfilling an existing contract is not a special gesture, but rather a natural obligation of the club.
It remains to be seen whether Hoeneß will respond to the criticism from his former CEO. In any case, the debate surrounding Musiala is unlikely to be over just yet.