Bayern Munich have moved decisively to end the speculation surrounding Michael Olise.
Bayern Munich have moved decisively to end the speculation surrounding Michael Olise, with sporting director Christoph Freund publicly confirming that the France international is going nowhere this summer.
Olise has been at the centre of one of the most persistent sagas of the transfer window.
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Real Madrid have been widely reported as admirers of the 24 year old forward, with several outlets suggesting the player himself would be open to a move to the Bernabeu.
Bayern, however, have consistently pushed back on the idea, and Freund has now reiterated that stance in the clearest possible terms.
Speaking to the press following Bayern’s 2 1 pre season defeat to Wehen Wiesbaden, Freund was asked directly about the Madrid links and offered no ambiguity whatsoever.
He said as per quotes via Maximilian Koch on X, “This is absolutely not an issue for us.”
“We’re delighted that Michael is back from his holiday.”
“He’ll play an important role for FC Bayern this season, just as he did last season too.”
Those words carry weight given Olise’s contract situation.
The Frenchman is tied to Bayern until 2029, meaning the German champions hold every card in any negotiation and face zero pressure to entertain offers.
Freund’s comments effectively close the door on Madrid’s hopes of prising him away before the window shuts.
The development also draws a line under longer running interest from England.
Olise was heavily courted by Premier League clubs before his move to Bavaria, and his name resurfaced in speculation around Anfield this summer as Liverpool searched for the right profile to replace Mohamed Salah following the Egyptian’s departure after nine seasons.
Olise’s ability to operate from the right flank, cut inside onto his stronger foot, and deliver both goals and assists at elite level made him an obvious stylistic match for what Liverpool lost, and supporters had long identified him as one of the few realistic candidates capable of filling that void.
That option, like several others, has now effectively evaporated.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Yan Diomande collapsed after the RB Leipzig winger signalled his preference for Paris Saint-Germain, with Real Madrid subsequently entering the race and reportedly seeing a €100 million bid rejected.
Andoni Iraola has been left working through alternatives, with names such as Said El Mala and Andreas Schjelderup among those mentioned as the Reds attempt to rebuild their attack.
For Real Madrid, the Olise rejection appears to have accelerated their own pivot toward Diomande, with reports suggesting the Ivorian has become their primary attacking objective following Bayern’s refusal to budge.
Freund’s message, meanwhile, was aimed as much at his own dressing room as at the outside world.
Bayern have made clear that Olise remains central to their plans, and after a season in which he established himself as one of the most dangerous wide players in Europe, that position is hardly surprising.
🚨Freund über einen möglichen Wechsel von #Olise zu @realmadrid: „Das ist für uns gar kein Thema. Wir freuen uns, wenn Michael aus dem Urlaub zurückkommt. Er wird in dieser Saison eine wichtige Rolle beim @FCBayern spielen – wie letztes Jahr auch schon.“ @Abendzeitung pic.twitter.com/GkFItqDuYo
— Maximilian Koch (@_kochmaximilian) July 25, 2026
Bayern Munich
Michael Olise