The right-back position at Bayern Munich has been significantly strengthened this summer by the signing of Noussair Mazraoui. The Moroccan right-back was the club’s first transfer of the summer as he joined on a free transfer. The arrival of Mazraoui will bring an end to Bouna Sarr’s time at Bayern.
The Senegalese right-back is on the list of departures at Die Roten. However, sorting out a deal for his exit is turning out to be a big challenge for the German Champions. According to Sport1, the wages of Sarr are turning out to be the biggest obstacle in his potential transfer away from Bavaria.
The German media outlet confirms that there is significant interest in the right-back from France, Italy, and Turkey. However, clubs are not ready to pay him €2.5 million/year that he is earning at Bayern. Unless Sarr decides to take a pay cut, a transfer away from Die Roten looks unlikely.
If Sarr decides to stay in Bavaria next season, then he will struggle to get himself on the pitch. Mazraoui will be the first choice right-back for Die Roten. Benjamin Pavard, Josip Stanisic, and Joshua Kimmich are the other right-back options for Julian Nagelsmann in the current squad. Sarr will manage to get in the matchday squad if there is an injury crisis in the right-back position.
Bouna Sarr arrived at Bayern at the end of the summer transfer window in 2020. The Bavarian club tried to sign Sergino Dest from Ajax in the same window, but he ended up joining FC Barcelona. Die Roten eventually settled on signing Sarr from Marseille in the final week of the window.
Things didn’t go as per plan for Sarr in his first season at Bayern. Hansi Flick trusted Benjamin Pavard in the right-back position, which limited opportunities for Sarr. He also had rotten luck with injuries and form, making it difficult for him to make a case for a place in the starting XI.
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After the departure of Flick, Bouna Sarr was looking for a fresh start under Julian Nagelsmann. However, the German coach also preferred Pavard and Stanisic over him in the right-back position. He decided to stay at the club beyond January as he was focusing on AFCON with Senegal. After playing almost every minute of the AFCON win for Senegal, Sarr was looking forward to proving himself at Die Roten in Ruckrunde.
For the second half of the season, Sarr struggled with injuries. It was established that Sarr was not in Nagelsmann’s plans going forward. He will spend most of the time on the sidelines if a transfer is not sorted this summer. However, Sarr is well within his rights to look for a move that meets his financial and sporting ambition. All parties will be hoping that a transfer satisfying everyone is eventually concluded by September.