Max Eberl speaks on Adam Aznou and other Bayern Munich departures: “Can’t force a dog to hunt.” | OneFootball

Bundesliga record champions FC Bayern Munich have shed three developmental prospects in the last three days. Fullback Adam Aznou (19, sold to Everton), winger Bryan Zaragoza (23, loaned to Celta Vigo), and attacker Lovro Zvonarek (20, loaned to Grasshopper Club Zürich) are off the FCB squad. Bayern board-member-for-sport Max Eberl recently offered up comments on the trio.

Aznou’s departure is obviously permanent. Zaragoza’s move – when one considers the provisions of the loan move – almost definitely counts as the end of his association with Bayern. Zvonarek shall return from his loan stint in Switzerland on an expiring contract next summer. It looks to be the case that the Bavarians are shopping him for a sale as well.

Zaragoza’s loan agreement contains two obligatory purchase clauses that effectively force the La Liga outfit to obtain him permanently. This conforms to the German club’s wishes to rid themselves of an expensive mistake. Bayern automatically earn €12m on their player if Zaragoza either plays 70 percent of his potential minutes or Celta Vigo finish above 11th in the table.

Some reports on the Zaragoza deal – as relayed by transfermarkt.de – suggest that 13th place in the table will be sufficient to trigger the Spaniard’s automatic purchase. Bayern have secured a loan fee totaling at least €1m. Eberl and sporting director Christoph Freund have effectively cut their losses at €5m in the case of Zaragoza.

Zvonarek’s deal features neither a loan fee nor a purchase clause, but the German giants are clearly betting that the Croatian U21 international can at least raise his estimated market value during his time in Switzerland. A Zvonarek loan out to SK Sturm Graz in Austria during the 2024/25 campaign saw Zvonarek’s valuation half from €3m to €1.5m.

It counts as highly unlikely that Zvonarek – once prematurely compared to his legendary compatriot Luca Modric – will find a role at Bayern even if he enjoys a successful season down south. One way or another, Zvonarek appears to have played his final match in an FCB tricot.

Whilst speaking on the Aznou transfer, Eberl issued some general remarks on the fact that Bayern presently find themselves shipping out developmental talents that didn’t pan out. Eberl defended the manner in which the Bayern campus continues to churn out useful talents.

“With Josip Stanisic, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Jamal Musiala, we have three regulars from our own academy,” Eberl – quoted by Transfermarkt said. “That’s not a common thing. We’ve developed numerous players at the campus and I consider that positive.

“We also have plenty more players with real prospects,” Eberl continued. “Paul Wanner [for example] has a great opportunity [this season].“

When commenting on Aznou specifically, Eberl used a uniquely German idiomatic expression that could be translated in a number of ways. “Man kann keinen Hund zum Jagen tragen.” Meaning remains inherent in the literal translation “one can’t force a dog to hunt”.

Other idiomatic options featuring animals include “one can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” or “one can’t lay the mouse in the cat’s mouth”.

One can also simply avoid idioms altogether and chose something banal such as “we can’t do it for him”, “it’s on him”, “no one will hand it to him”, “it rests on his shoulders” or “He has his own motivations.”

In any event, Eberl confirmed that Aznou and others showed little-to-no commitment to the defending Bundesliga champions during summer training camp. Eberl confirmed that Aznou at least would have gotten a chance to prove himself and earn minutes this year.

“From our perspective, the next steps were ready to be taken,” Eberl said. “He [Aznou] said he no longer wanted to do it. he wanted to do something else. Our president [Herbert Hainer] has a nice saying: ‘You can’t force a dog to hunt.’”

GGFN | Peter Weis