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David Alaba is going into his 13th season at Bayern - maybe his last
Photo:
CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP
Uli Hoeneß was beside himself: "We have a salary system. If we break that, everyone wants to get double that," said the head of Bayern Munich.
He was angry because one of his most important players and his advisors are asking for a new contract significantly more than the 6.5 million euros offered by the club per year.
That was in November 2005. Bayern finally withdrew what was then a princely offer - and Michael Ballack moved to Chelsea in 2006.
There have always been loud background noises at FC Bayern when negotiating a new contract.
After Ballack, disruptions followed with Arjen Robben, two years ago with Robert Lewandwoski.
The talks with Manuel Neuer recently caused a stir.
And now there is the David Alaba case.
"A greedy piranha"
On Sunday, Hoeneß gave out a massive TV one-two and attacked Pini Zahavi in particular, the dazzling player advisor Alaba had hired for the contract talks.
Hoeneß spoke of a "greedy piranha" because Zahavi was demanding commission payments in the tens of millions, whereupon the consultant stated that his fee had never been an issue.
Finally, Alaba's father and advisor spoke up.
George Alaba indignantly spoke of "dirty lies" and "filthy allegations."
Strong stuff, but only frowned at the club headquarters, after all, Hoeness would not have attacked Alaba's father, but rather expressed sympathy for him.
The sticking point in the halting talks is currently not so much Mr. Zahavi's request for commission, so we can hear.
The crucial question is: Can David Alaba, as he demands with his advisor, earn more than Manuel Neuer and Robert Lewandowski?
The clear answer from FC Bayern: no.
Not only would it mess up the pay structure, it would mess up the hierarchy as well.
Neuer and Lewandowski mark the boundary
Because in the internal pecking order, Neuer and Lewandowski rank at the top.
Both should have the same annual income, one speaks of around 20 million euros.
The Bayern bosses Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Hasan Salihamidzic would probably still accept salary expectations in a corridor of 15 to 18 million.
But not more than 20, let alone 25 million, as has already been rumored.
With all the appreciation for Alaba, who has been wearing the Bayern jersey since his debut in the B-Juniors twelve years ago and played an outstanding role as a central defender in the last triple season, with all the affirmation of how much they love him and how well he does to Bayern: According to the Bayern bosses, he does not come to the spheres of Neuer and Lewandowski as undisputed performers.
And that's why he doesn't get any more money.
The credo from the club headquarters: One should not and will not allow oneself to be blackmailed, even at the risk of the "super-GAU" (Hoeneß) occurring and Alaba leaving Bavaria without an agreement next summer for free.
Then, as usual in these cases, the player and the advisor would receive part of the otherwise due transfer fee as hand money.
And Bayern don't get anything.
If Bayern were to give in, it could have an impact on the internal climate in the cabin.
The next player to be extended with is now watching what is happening around Alaba.
"Don't pour more oil on the fire"
But why does it have to be so loud then?
As was the case with Neuer, when he complained in the spring that salary claims had been launched from the club to "Bild" - whereupon he and his advisor Thomas Kroth reciprocated in a double interview in "Bild am Sonntag" without consulting the club.
"He didn't do himself a favor with that," they heard from the club afterwards, so both sides could vent their anger for a moment.
In the end they agreed again, Neuer got a lot of money - and Bayern saved face.
Often these are the same mechanisms at such moments, because even now, after the attack by Hoeneß and the counterattacks by Zahavi and Alaba's father, the steam first shines from the boiler.
George Alaba was reluctant to speak to DER SPIEGEL: "Please understand, I don't want to comment on it now and don't want to add any more fuel to the fire," he said.
They want to settle all of this again at the negotiating table.
Thomas Müller's contract extension for another three years recently showed that things are going smoothly.
You didn't hear about it in public until the contract was signed.
"We would all like to see an agreement and as soon as possible," said midfielder Leon Goretzka on Tuesday.
The dispute has no effect on performance or the team structure, "we're professionals enough for that," said Goretzka.
On Friday it's the Bundesliga opener against Schalke 04. It's the start of David Alaba's 13th season in the Bayern jersey.
Maybe it will be his last.
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