Bayern Munich have moved quickly to close down talk of a blockbuster move for Michael Olise, with sporting director Christoph Freund declaring that speculation over a switch to Real Madrid "doesn't concern us at all."
Freund fielded the question after Bayern's pre-season friendly defeat to Wehen Wiesbaden, and his answer left little room for interpretation: Olise, he said, will again be a central figure for the club this coming season, exactly as he was in the last one.
The Frenchman signed for Bayern from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024 for around €53 million and needed almost no time to settle. He is under contract at the Allianz Arena until June 2029, and according to reports in the German and Spanish press, Bayern are already working on extending that deal to 2031, with his wages set to rise from roughly €15 million to around €25 million a year.
The numbers behind Bayern's determination to keep him are hard to argue with. Olise finished last season with 22 goals and 31 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions, including 15 goals and 19 assists in the Bundesliga alone, form that earned him the league's Player of the Season award. In the Champions League he added four goals and seven assists as Bayern reached the semi-finals.
The Real Madrid rumours had gathered pace over recent days, with some reports in Spain suggesting the European champions could be readying an offer in the region of €223 million, a figure that would shatter the world transfer record. Real Madrid themselves issued a statement denying any contact with Olise, his representatives or those around him.
Freund's comments were the clearest signal yet from Bayern's side that the club regards the matter as settled. Olise, who took part in this summer's World Cup with France, is currently on vacation and is expected back in Munich for the start of pre-season training with no suggestion of a departure.
For Bayern, the message is less about reacting to a single rumour than about protecting the identity of a squad built around Olise, Harry Kane and Luis Diaz up front. Losing their standout performer of the season, even to a fee north of €200 million, was never seriously on the table.
