Jerome Boateng said on Tuesday that the Bayern Munich players are behind David Alaba amid the Austrian defender’s contract extension stalemate with the European champions. Alaba could leave Bayern at the end of the season after the latest round of extension talks between the club and the player’s agent broke down.
On Monday, the 28-year-old said he was “hurt and disappointed” to learn through the press that Bayern had withdrawn their latest offer to extend his deal, which expires next June, after protracted wranglings. “Of course it’s an issue, but he is focused on the essentials,” Boateng, who partnered Alaba at centre-back in Tuesday’s 6-2 win at Salzburg, said. “It is clear that it’s not easy, but he put in another great game today and we’re behind him.”
Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic admitted before the match it looked increasingly likely that the Austrian would exit the club next year. Alaba has repeatedly been linked to Premier League giants Manchester United and Manchester City. “We submitted an improved offer to him, for which we set a deadline of last weekend,” said Salihamidzic. “Before that, we informed him that we would withdraw the offer if the deadline expired. That’s what happened. In football you should never say never, but I don’t know how we could come together (to an agreement) now. We have to deal with the fact that David will leave us.”
Thomas Mueller also said Alaba would let his football do the talking, after Bayern’s 14th straight Champions League victory. “The good thing about David is that he backs himself regardless of these discussions,” he said. “But it’s nice when there is something up at FC Bayern — we also want things to crackle a bit. I used to enjoy reading about ‘FC Hollywood’,” Mueller joked, referring to the German media’s former nickname for Bayern, who used to have a reputation for off-field drama.
However, Bayern head coach Hansi Flick was clearly unimpressed ahead of Saturday’s top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash at Borussia Dortmund. “It is important to me that we have calm in the team before the game against Dortmund — everything else is not an issue for me,” Flick flatly said when asked about Alaba.
Meanwhile, Boateng wants to start contract extension talks with Bayern his agent said amid uncertainty surrounding the future of Alaba. Boateng, 32, a 2014 World Cup winner, is out of contract in June. “We are open to contract talks and would be delighted to have them with Bayern,” Boateng’s representative Damir Smoljan said. “Jerome feels unbelievably well here and the team is incredibly focused and professional.”
Boateng joined Bayern in 2011 and has won eight Bundesliga titles. He was also a key member of the Bayern team which won Champions League titles in 2013 and last August.
Boateng also underlined his form on Tuesday with his first Champions League goal for five years. Along with fellow stars Mats Hummels and Thomas Mueller, Boateng was told in March 2019 by Germany coach Joachim Loew his international career was over.
However, the trio’s current form has led to calls to reinstate them for next June’s postponed Euro 2020. Bayern coach Hansi Flick said senior club bosses “are all glad” to see Boateng in such eye-catching form.
Flick praised Boateng’s “very good” performance in Salzburg as his goal “paved the way” to victory.
Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng (right) celebrates with David Alaba after scoring against Salzburg in the Champions League Group A match in Salzburg, Austria. (AFP)
