Bayern Munich appear to be softening their previously firm stance on Michael Olise's future, with the club's chief executive suggesting the winger's long-term status at the Allianz Arena is not guaranteed beyond the current season.
Throughout the summer transfer window, Bayern officials repeatedly insisted that Olise was not for sale, batting away interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs. Real Madrid had been strongly linked with a move for the Frenchman, while Paris Saint-Germain were also reported to be monitoring his situation. Despite the speculation, Bayern held firm and no deal materialized.
However, comments from CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen in a new interview with German broadcaster Sport1 have introduced an element of uncertainty around Olise's future at the club. When asked directly whether the 23-year-old would still be at Bayern next season, Dreesen declined to give a definitive answer.
"In this business, making promises is tricky," Dreesen said, before adding: "Will we be able to retain him permanently? We'll revisit that next summer."
The remarks mark a notable shift in tone from a club that had gone out of its way this past summer to shut down transfer talk surrounding Olise. Dreesen, who has been with Bayern since 2013 in various roles including a background in banking, also used the interview to dismiss reports that the club had fielded numerous offers for the player during the recent window.
"It was nonsense to say that we had dozens of proposals on the table this summer. We didn't have any," he said, pushing back on media narratives that suggested Bayern were fending off a flurry of bids.
Despite the ambiguity over his long-term future, Dreesen was unequivocal in his praise for Olise's contribution to the team, underlining just how highly the club values him as things stand. "Olise is very important for this team. He's a magician on the pitch," the CEO said.
Olise joined Bayern from Crystal Palace and has quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous attacking players in European football. His debut campaign in Bavaria last season was nothing short of sensational, as he was directly involved in 35 goals across just 32 appearances for club and country combined, either scoring or providing assists at a remarkable rate. That form has continued into the new Bundesliga campaign, with Olise already finding the net once in his first two league outings of the 2026/27 season.
The winger still has three years remaining on his current contract with Bayern, meaning the club is under no immediate pressure to sell. However, Dreesen's comments could be interpreted as a signal that the Bundesliga giants may be more open to negotiations should a suitable offer arrive next summer.
Real Madrid's interest in Olise has cooled somewhat in recent weeks after the Spanish club completed a big-money move for another attacking talent, Yan Diomande, signing the player from RB Leipzig for a reported £120 million in early August. That deal had also drawn attention from Liverpool, who were said to be tracking Diomande before he opted to join Los Blancos.
Whether Real Madrid will renew their pursuit of Olise once the transfer window reopens next year remains to be seen. For now, Bayern Munich seem content to enjoy his services for at least one more season, while leaving open the possibility of a sale further down the line.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (Football).