Stars for the future? Bayern bag new partnership | OneFootball

FC Bayern is pushing ahead with its international talent strategy and is looking to find stars for the future through a new partnership

Through Red&Gold Football, the joint venture with Los Angeles Football Club, the Munich-based club has entered into a new partnership in South America. In future, Red&Gold Football will work with Sociedad Deportiva Aucas from Quito, an established first division club in Ecuador. The aim of the cooperation is to open up new development paths for particularly talented young players – both in the direction of the top European leagues and in Major League Soccer

Red&Gold Managing Director Jochen Sauer sees Ecuador as an extremely exciting market: „Ecuador has been producing outstanding footballers for years, and we see great potential in further expanding our presence in this dynamic soccer market. The partnership with S.D. Aucas allows us to work closely with an organization that shares our philosophy of long-term and sustainable player development. Together, we want to give Ecuador’s most exciting talents the opportunity to develop in performance-oriented environments in Europe and the USA,“ explained Sauer

Specifically, a close exchange between Munich, Los Angeles and Quito is planned. Aucas President Danny Walker explained that it is not just about transfers, but about a structured development model. „The cooperation includes a structured exchange of ideas, methods and scouting and development philosophies between Munich, Los Angeles and Quito. Young players from Aucas will regularly have the opportunity to train in Europe and the USA, take part in scouting or play in international tournaments,“ said Walker

Ecuador has recently produced numerous stars

With the new cooperation, Red&Gold Football is further expanding its activities in South America. The Uruguayan Racing Club de Montevideo will remain the joint venture’s central training base in the region, while Aucas will provide access to the Ecuadorian talent pool as an additional partner. Ecuador is regarded internationally as one of the most interesting countries for young talent, which is underlined by examples such as Willian Pacho, Moisés Caicedo and former Aucas player Diego Palacios

However, the project is not without controversy. There was already criticism from the Bayern fan scene when Red&Gold Football acquired a stake in Racing Club de Montevideo. At the time, some supporters expressed their displeasure at the multi-club ownership model and feared a creeping alienation from the classic club concept. Banners in the Allianz Arena made it clear that not all fans supported the international expansion

Despite this criticism, those responsible are sticking to their strategy. Red&Gold Football, founded in March 2023, is intended to offer young talents a global platform that combines the training know-how of FC Bayern and LAFC with regional expertise. The partnership with S.D. Aucas is intended to be the next step on this path.