Bayern must learn the right lessons from the Nübel fiasco | OneFootball

With Alexander Nübel’s departure, one of the most unusual transfers in Bayern’s recent history is leaving the club. On the field, the goalkeeper played virtually no role in Munich; financially, however, he turned out to be a costly venture. His departure should therefore serve as a warning to club officials.

When Alexander Nübel moved from FC Schalke to FC Bayern on a free transfer in the summer of 2020, the plan seemed clear: the then-23-year-old was supposed to succeed Manuel Neuer in the medium term. On paper, this move made sense. In practice, however, it turned into a lesson in just how difficult it can be to find a successor to a club legend.

Six years later, the results are sobering. Nübel played just four competitive matches in a Bayern jersey. Instead, he spent most of his contract term on loan at Monaco and Stuttgart, before now facing a permanent move to Besiktas Istanbul.

Bayern created this problem themselves

However, it would be too simplistic to dismiss this chapter as merely a failed transfer. Rather, the case reveals fundamental flaws in squad planning.

FC Bayern signed Nübel as the designated successor to Neuer without having a realistic timeline for the generational transition. Manuel Neuer extended his contract several times, remained indispensable on the field, and left his challenger virtually no chance to prove himself over the long term.

At the latest after his successful loan spells, the club should have made a fundamental decision: either give Nübel a real opportunity to become the future number one, or part ways with him decisively. Instead, a years-long stalemate ensued that didn’t really help either the player or the club.

Added to this is the financial aspect. Even if Bayern were to receive the full bonus payments for Nübel, they would have sold him below market value and paid a severance package on top of that. While the club will save on a high salary going forward, the impression remains that what started as an ambitious project for the future ultimately turned into a financially costly compromise.

A warning sign for the future

Photo: IMAGO

But the Nübel case sends an entirely different message. Contracts with high salaries and no clear athletic prospects can backfire in the long run. When players ultimately leave the club with severance packages despite lacking a defined role, this is noted just as closely internally as it is by agents and other professionals.

Precisely because FC Bayern has recently identified its salary structure as an area in need of improvement on multiple occasions, Nübel’s departure should be seen as a warning. Not every signing turns out as planned. What matters most, however, is taking timely action.

For Nübel, the Munich chapter ends with a fresh start in Istanbul. For FC Bayern, it should mark the end of a personnel matter whose most important lesson is this: A successor does not become a successor simply by signing a contract. Above all, he needs a clear plan—and the courage on the club’s part to actually implement it.