In a bid to ensure Bayern Munich squad remains together ahead of next season, the team’s management has said that efforts would be made to ensure that defender, David Alaba, midfielder, Thiago Alcantara, and other key players extend their contracts.
Both Alaba, who scored the opening goal in Berlin during German Cup final against Bayer Leverkusen and Alcantara, a second-half replacement in the cup final, only have a year left on their contracts and were already attracting suitors that fancied their style of play.
Expressing the management wish, the club’s coach, Hansi Flick, disclosed that he was determined to keep defender David Alaba and midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who has been linked to a move to Liverpool.
The coach gave the hint during an interview after the cup final yesterday where the Bundesliga champions completed the double with a 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
“I will do everything I can to ensure that we can keep two such quality players. I am trying to keep the squad together as it is at the moment”.
Flick stated that he hopes to persuade Alcantara, who joined Bayern in 2013, to extend his contract after observing the midfielder’s disposition to the trophies celebration by the club.
According to him, I will do my best to make sure he stays and work with the team. You could see that he identifies 100 percent with the club.
Alcantara, 29, is of particular concern as the Spanish media has linked him to a move to Liverpool, but Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says no offer has yet been received.
“We have negotiated with him seriously and granted all his wishes, but it looks like he wants to do something new at the end of his career,” Rummenigge said.
Flick, however, thinks Robert Lewandowski, the man-of-the-match after scoring twice in Berlin to leave him on 51 goals this season, is a Ballon d’Or candidate.
“When you see that he has scored 34 times in the league, it’s quite enough to make you think that a player from the Bundesliga could be world footballer of the year,” Flick said as Lewandowski was crowned German league top-scorer last weekend for the fifth time.
Bayern, who are chasing the treble, are among the favourites for the Champions League knock-out stages to be held in Lisbon next month.
