Michael Olise, the 24-year-old Bayern Munich (contracted until 2029) and France national team winger/attacking midfielder, is currently one of football’s biggest sensations. While he has been linked to Paris Saint-Germain for the transfer window, L’Equipe provided an update this Friday, noting that talk of the French international’s departure has resurfaced recently—specifically regarding his desire to join Real Madrid.
“A drawn-out, energy-draining saga with no guarantee of success.”
“Although the Paris hierarchy holds Olise’s talent in high regard, the idea of launching a bid this summer was quickly dismissed. Internally, the matter is bluntly described as a potential ‘nightmare.’ In other words: a drawn-out, energy-draining saga with no guarantee of success.
‘It is better to look for the next Olise than Olise himself,’ sources at the club suggest. This is especially true given the friendly relations between Paris and Bayern Munich, which encourage a realistic outlook. On the Parisian side, there is no belief whatsoever that the player will be sold this summer—’or at least not for less than 200 million euros,’ as one insider put it.”
“A wage structure the French champions no longer wish to adopt”
In this regard, the salary aspect presents a second insurmountable obstacle. PSG estimates Olise’s earnings at over 20 million euros per year in the event of a transfer—a wage structure the French champions no longer wish to adopt, in order to maintain dressing-room cohesion. Furthermore, entering the race for Olise would, according to the club, send a signal of financial excess to the market, carrying the risk that the asking prices for other Parisian targets would automatically inflate.”
One always approaches transfer rumors with caution, given the twists and uncertainties seen every year; only concrete developments truly matter. However, the details of this particular situation make sense. There is no doubt that Olise is a player with significant sporting appeal, even though he struggled during the World Cup semi-final between France and Spain—a match where the entire team labored.
He possesses special qualities and could carve out a role at Paris. Yet, there are many other factors to consider. A protracted negotiation that ultimately fails could be a major drain on energy when there are other matters requiring attention. Furthermore, the massive cost involved could hinder the completion of those other deals. Salary is another issue; the figure in question is currently deemed too high for PSG. Such a signing would likely prompt demands from other players regarding the wage structure, which is currently well-accepted.
That is simply the reality: a club cannot sign everyone. It must stick to its philosophy and maintain consistency. There is no need for regrets, either; PSG was able to sign Désiré Doué (21) for a similar role around the time Olise joined Bayern Munich—and Paris has won two Champions League titles since then.
