A year ago, FC Bayern paid €900,000 for Australian attacking talent Nestory Irankunda. After 15 appearances in the Regionalliga and a loan spell, he is now set to join Watford FC.
According to other media reports, Bayern will receive around three million euros in transfer fees for the Australian Nestory Irankunda, as well as a buy-back clause and a 50 percent share of any future transfer fee should Watford sell Irankunda on. That could pay off at some point. A year ago, Munich received €20 million when Joshua Zirkzee moved from FC Bologna to Manchester United.
The 19-year-old Australian arrived in Munich last summer, completed most of his pre-season training with the first team, but only played in the Bavarian regional league and the Youth League. Because he was too good for the regional league, he was loaned to Grasshopper Club Zurich in the winter, making a total of 19 appearances and scoring one goal in the relegation round.
In an interview with Sky Sports on his way to Watford, Irankunda said he was “grateful for the opportunity FC Bayern gave him,” adding that the path of an Australian soccer player to such a top European club was unusual. However, after his loan spell in Zurich, there were no further talks with Munich, and in Watford he wants to focus on securing his place in the World Cup with Australia.
Aznou to stay for now, Karl to get squad place behind Olise
Irankunda’s example shows that FC Bayern also earns money from talented players: Frans Krätzig moved to Salzburg this summer for €3.5 million, Gabriel Vidovic to Dinamo Zagreb for €1.2 million, and with Irankunda’s €3 million, that makes €7.7 million plus a low loan fee for Arijon Ibrahimovic (Heidenheim).
Despite contacts with FC Getafe, Adam Aznou is staying with FC Bayern for the time being. However, coach Vincent Kompany does not rate the Moroccan international any higher than Raphael Guerreiro, for example, which explains his limited playing time of eight minutes in the Club World Cup. Those responsible hope that Aznou will seize the opportunity presented by the absences of Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito with more determination, which includes performing well in training.
The door for a move away from Munich this summer is unlikely to be closed, however, as the player is reportedly keen to leave. Lennart Karl, on the other hand, is set to get a permanent place in the squad as the number two right winger behind Michael Olise. Similar to Jamal Musiala in 2020, the 17-year-old will then have to seize the opportunities he gets and earn more playing time.
