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Munich (dpa) - Next.
Always on.
The Bavarians have barely returned from Qatar as club world champions and six-title winners than the restless trophy hunt in the Bundesliga and Champions League continues.
Before the home game on Monday (8.30 p.m. / DAZN) against Arminia Bielefeld, the series champion announced an important success on the transfer market in between.
FC Bayern snatch defensive boss Dayot Upamecano from national rival RB Leipzig.
The 22-year-old Frenchman is expected to succeed the two-time triple winner David Alaba, whose farewell in the summer has been sealed for a long time.
The large transfer is a multiple signal, especially in Corona times.
Bayern not only weaken an ambitious league competitor.
In the international transfer market, they also outperformed competitors such as Liverpool and Chelsea FC with German coaches Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel in the battle for a central defender, who all experts believe has world-class potential.
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"Upamecano is a young player whose qualities have already developed exceptionally," enthused Hasan Salihamidzic.
The Munich sports board announced the transfer in a "picture" interview.
The publication burst in the middle of the Leipzig 2-1 on Friday evening against FC Augsburg - and caught the Saxons cold.
In view of the exit clause of 42.5 million euros in Upamecano's contract until June 2023, the second in the table could not fend off the change.
The ambitious RB coach Julian Nagelsmann said about the competition for top international players: "We're not on the top European shelf like Bayern or Real Madrid."
Sports director Markus Krösche noted that you no longer sat in the driver's seat.
Bayern, on the other hand, are firmly in the driver's seat - not just nationally.
Only recently, the designated chairman of the board, Oliver Kahn, said on Sky: "Bavaria is number one for many players at the moment."
Upamecano apparently sees it that way too.
And even if, according to Kahn, "the fat years" are over for the time being because of the corona losses, the Bundesliga Croesus can handle the fat transfer.
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Upamecano receives a five-year contract in Munich.
In addition to the fixed fee, the salary and commissions easily add up to 100 million euros.
Upamecano is a necessary new piece of the puzzle in Bavaria's defense.
In addition to Alaba (28), Jérôme Boateng could also leave the record champions in the summer.
The 32-year-old's contract is expiring.
Negotiations are also necessary with national player Niklas Süle, whose contract expires in 2022.
"As far as the defense is concerned, I'm not worried," said Kahn.
He believes that the 80 million euro world champion Lucas Hernández will play a more important role in the future: "Lucas is a leader in terms of his whole personality."
For coach Hansi Flick, Upamecano and new defense constellations are dreams of the future.
The present is extremely challenging for him and his current squad.
"It goes very fast.
It goes on and on, that's our job, that's our business, ”said the 55-year-old after winning the final at the Club World Cup.
He allowed his stars two days off without training, who immediately found their way back into everyday life in the league against Bielefeld and not only had to master a sharp change in temperature.
A good week before the first leg of the first leg in the Champions League at Lazio Rom, Flick is plagued by personnel concerns.
Serge Gnabry returned from Qatar with a torn hamstring.
After his positive Corona test, Thomas Müller had to be transported back to Munich in an ambulance machine and is also canceled for the time being.
After all, Leon Goretzka and Javi Martínez could be options again after their Corona quarantine, especially with a view to the premier class.
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“The most important phase of the season is coming soon,” said striker Robert Lewandowski: “We know we're on top, but we want to stay there.
That is the greatest challenge for us. "
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210214-99-435483 / 2
Schedule FC Bayern
FC Bayern squad
FC Bayern title wins
Facts about the game Bayern - Bielefeld
Arminia squad
Performance data for Upamecano