Quote:
So you acknowledge that things are done differently at Bayern.
Yet you keep making fun of us when we claim that things are done differently at Bayern.
Like when it was reported that Mario Götze could have gone to artificially, cash induced Moneysack club X, but chose the "Perfect model in place" club FC Bayern München instead, despite most probably earning a bit less than he could have at moneysack club?
It's an attitude like this, that makes me ridicule you. The mere thought that someone could actually believe that money is the sole deciding factor a player considers before joining a club is, frankly, baffling.
If I were a player, I would think thrice before joining a volatile club like City (and yes, money does actually play a big part in my thinking thrice. DUCY?). If then Bayern came along, who stand on their own feet, and stand better on them than any other club in the world, I wouldn't have to think anymore. It's not like they pay so little that I'd have to suffer from hunger. Especially not if I'm Mario Götze, the biggest talent in German football and one of the biggest in the world.
And yes, history and prestige do play a role, too. Who the **** are City? Now Bayern, that's close to four decades of European elite football. Glorious names like Beckenbauer, Müller, Maier, Hoeneß, Breitner, Rummenigge...; Titles upon titles. Yes, stuff like that means something to people, and it may be the deciding factor even if another club offers more cash.
Just ask Pep Guardiola.
Kevin De Bruyne agreed to join Bayern Munich before moving to Manchester City, his agent Patrick De Koster has revealed.
City fought off competition from across Europe last summer to bring the Belgium international, last season's Bundesliga Player of the Year, to the Etihad Stadium in a £54.5m deal from Wolfsburg - the second highest transfer fee paid by a British football club.
However, according to his agent, De Bruyne was on the brink of remaining in Germany, with only Bayern's unwillingness to match Wolfsburg's valuation for the 24-year-old preventing the move.
"Kevin's heart was beating for the Bundesliga, where he broke through at Bremen and became a star at Wolfsburg," De Koster told SportFootMagazine.
"I'm convinced he would have played for Bayern if they had been able to pay the asking price.
"We reached a personal agreement with Bayern after two meetings. The deal collapsed on the asking price.
"I think that Bayern wanted to pay 50m euros, but not a euro more."
De Bruyne has been a revelation since making the move to England, scoring 11 goals in 27 appearances for City and making eight assists in the Premier League - second only behind Mesut Ozil.
And De Koster believes his client's performances on the pitch show he is happy and has adapted to life at City.
"In the end City won the race and Kevin is super happy with his move," he added. "He adapted fast on and off the pitch."
Dem Bayern shirts not looking so shiny these days.