Bayern Munich news: Lothar Matthäus urges club to reward Michael Olise
Bayern Munich great Lothar Matthäus has urged the club to move quickly on a new contract for Michael Olise, arguing that the French winger’s reported salary no longer reflects his value to the team. The former Germany captain also revisited a tense exchange with honorary president Uli Hoeneß, while several other stories are shaping the latest Bayern headlines—from Klara Bühl’s uncertain future to a heartwarming gesture by former midfielder João Palhinha.
For supporters following Bayern Munich news, the central question is whether the club can secure Olise for the long term before Europe’s biggest teams make a serious move. His current deal runs until 2029, but Matthäus believes an early extension and significant pay rise would send a clear message about Bayern’s ambitions.
Matthäus: Bayern should put Olise among its top earners
Olise has made an immediate impact since joining Bayern, combining close control, creativity and direct attacking play. Matthäus says the 24-year-old is already performing at a level that should place him alongside the club’s highest-paid stars, including Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala.
Reports put Olise’s annual earnings at approximately €14 million. On the Bild programme Lothar legt los, Matthäus suggested that the figure may leave the winger well down Bayern’s internal salary rankings, despite his importance on the pitch.
“For a year and a half, he has been performing like one of the very best,” Matthäus said, arguing that Bayern should adjust Olise’s wages and add another year or two to his contract. In his view, the club’s message must match its intention: if Bayern want to keep a player of Olise’s quality, they need to offer a deal that reflects his contribution.
Matthäus was emphatic that selling the Frenchman should not be part of the plan. He described Olise as the kind of difference-maker a club should try to retain for as long as possible. That position is understandable given the winger’s recent form: he reportedly opened the new campaign with nine goals and five assists in his first ten competitive appearances, following a previous season in which his performances attracted wider recognition.
Why an early extension matters
Olise’s contract does not expire until 2029, so Bayern are not facing an immediate risk of losing him on a free transfer. However, an early renewal could protect the club’s position, reward his progress and reduce uncertainty around his future. It could also help Bayern avoid entering a bidding contest if a rival club decides to test its resolve.
Real Madrid have reportedly monitored Olise, although no concrete offer was made last summer. Any future transfer would likely be exceptionally expensive, with reports suggesting a fee above €200 million could be required. That figure would reflect more than his statistics: elite clubs pay for age, potential, commercial appeal and the scarcity of players who can consistently create chances in one-on-one situations.
For Bayern, the challenge is balancing a major new contract against its wider wage structure. A substantial increase for Olise could influence negotiations with other key players, making the timing and terms of any extension an important piece of the club’s long-term planning.
Matthäus recalls Hoeneß’s furious response
Matthäus also shared a story from his playing days at Bayern, recalling a fine of 10,000 Deutschmarks—roughly €5,113 using the conversion cited in the report. The penalty followed an advertising shoot for clothing company Bogner, which Matthäus said had taken place without the club’s permission.
He explained that the shoot happened on a mountain near a car park, with an RTL camera crew present. Matthäus said he had slid only a short distance down towards his car and disputed the suggestion that he had been skiing without authorisation.
When the fine did not appear to have been deducted from his wages, he later took his payslip to Hoeneß and pointed out the omission. Matthäus recalled that the response was blunt: “Get out of my office!”
Despite the angry exchange, Matthäus said the fine was never ultimately paid. The anecdote offers a glimpse of the direct, sometimes combustible relationship between two prominent figures in Bayern’s history—and the strict standards the club expected of its players.
Klara Bühl’s Bayern future remains unresolved
Bayern’s women’s team could face a significant contract decision of its own. Germany international Klara Bühl is reportedly attracting interest from Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, London City Lionesses and Lyon, with a possible departure next summer being discussed.
Bühl is said to earn around €300,000 annually at Bayern, and reports suggest a move abroad could potentially double her salary. She has not publicly committed to leaving, however. Speaking to ZDF in October, she said she could imagine different possibilities while also stressing how comfortable she feels in Munich and how much she values what she has there.
The 25-year-old’s importance is clear from her recent output: she reportedly has seven goals and nine assists in ten matches this season. Losing a player with that level of influence would leave Bayern with a major task in the transfer market, particularly if several European contenders are prepared to offer improved terms.
Women’s football director Bianca Rech has said the club would ideally like clarity by the end of the year. Bühl’s contract runs until 2027, meaning Bayern still have time on paper, but an early decision would help both sides plan. Any prediction about her next move remains uncertain until she makes her intentions clear.
Palhinha makes a young Benfica supporter’s dream come true
Former Bayern midfielder João Palhinha has also been in the headlines for an act of kindness. After moving back to Benfica in the summer, the Portugal international reportedly arranged a special stadium visit for Matilde, a 15-year-old supporter living with epidermolysis bullosa, a rare condition that can make the skin extremely fragile and painful.
Matilde had posted online about wanting to visit Benfica’s ground and meet winger Andreas Schjelderup. Palhinha reportedly helped organise the visit, gave her a Benfica shirt and arranged introductions with other players, the coach and the club president.
He told her she was a “true champion” and said the team admired her. Matilde later thanked Palhinha and Benfica, writing that the experience helped her feel she could still dream and enjoy magical moments despite the challenges of her illness.
Bayern Munich’s upcoming fixtures
Bayern’s schedule offers little time to pause, with domestic and European tests approaching. The listed fixtures are SC Freiburg away in the Bundesliga on 25 October, 1. FC Magdeburg at home in the DFB Cup on 28 October, Borussia Dortmund in the league on 31 October, and Atlético Madrid away in the Champions League on 3 November.
The run includes a major Bundesliga meeting with Dortmund and a demanding European trip to Madrid. Bayern’s performances across those matches will provide another measure of the squad’s depth—and another opportunity for Olise to strengthen Matthäus’s argument that he deserves a place among the club’s most highly valued players.
