Yassine Bounou reveals contact with Bayern Munich in summer
The defending Bundesliga champions had to explore several options throughout the summer to strengthen the goalkeeping department. Bayern Munich eventually signed Daniel Peretz from Maccabi Tel Aviv, but the 23-year-old goalkeeper was not the first-choice option for this position.
Rekordmeister was initially looking for a top-class goalkeeper who could deputize Manuel Neuer. There was a lot of uncertainty over the return of Neuer from a serious leg injury, with few reports suggesting the 37-year-old will be fit by early 2024. In such a scenario, Rekordmeister had to look for an elite goalkeeper who could fill the void of Neuer in the team.
Bayern was heavily linked with a move for Yassine Bounou. The Moroccan goalkeeper held preliminary talks with Die Roten, but there was no agreement with Sevilla to complete the transfer. Bounou was also linked with a move to Bavaria in January, but Bayern eventually settled for Borussia Monchengladbach’s Yann Sommer to deputize Neuer.
Bounou eventually left Sevilla to join Al-Hilal late in the summer transfer window. While talking to Canal Sur Radio (via Relevo), Bounou revealed that Bayern’s desire to sign him on loan made sure that the transfer didn’t materialize. Sevilla was only looking for a permanent sale if they had to part ways with the Moroccan goalkeeper.
"“Bayern was in contact with Sevilla. They asked me to wait and told me they were going to send an offer. But in the meantime, other names were being rumoured. There came a time when I understood that Bayern were only looking for a loan.“The clubs, unfortunately, now don’t want to spend, it’s difficult. It’s difficult to spend on 32 year-old players like me, that goes for Bayern or any other team. At that moment, I was waiting and the offer from Al-Hilal arrived.”"
Bayern and Real Madrid were fighting for the signature of the same goalkeepers this summer. Both clubs had an interest in Bounou, but the transfer never materialised. Bayern decided to turn their attention to Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga. With a transfer looking likely for the Spanish goalkeeper, Real Madrid made the late move to sign the former Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper.
Kepa recently confirmed Die Roten’s interest in him, but he preferred a move to the Spanish capital over Munich. The record Bundesliga champions also tried to sign David Raya from Brentford. The 27-year-old goalkeeper rejected a loan proposal from Bayern as he preferred a move to Arsenal.
Die Roten were also offered the chance to sign David De Gea. The Spanish goalkeeper was a free agent after leaving Manchester United in June, but a move never materialised for him. Manchester City’s Stefan Ortega emerged as Bayern’s preferred option in the final three weeks of the window, but Pep Guardiola was eager to keep the German goalkeeper.
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With options narrowing down, Die Roten received positive updates on the recovery of Manuel Neuer. The German international could make his return later in September, which prompted a change in policy. They decided to stick with Sven Ulreich for the start of the season and sign a goalkeeper for the future in the form of Peretz.