“I want you and no one else”: Is this what Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel’s told FC Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo?
With Bayern Munich set to lose players in January 2024 (AFCON and Asian Cup, players will be called up), the club has found themselves scrambling for defensive reinforcements because most of the backline will be the ones departing for international duty. Out of nowhere, the Bavarians found themselves hounding FC Barcelona center-back Ronald Araújo; he was told by Thomas Tuchel that he wants him and no one else:
He is FC Bayern’s top transfer target this winter. Thomas Tuchel loves this player. It was a video call [on Friday] in which [Tuchel and Freund] really hyped Araújo up. Tuchel told the player that he only wanted him – no one else. That’s almost reminiscent of Pep Guardiola’s famous words: Thiago or nothing. If Araújo signals that he wants the move, then Bayern will and want to go all in”
Trying to pry a starting player from another club is almost impossible, but the Rekordmeister did tug Harry Kane away from Tottenham Hotspur and nearly got a deal for João Palhinha from Fulham FC. Bayern might just be able to do it.