Bayern Is the Trump Card, but What About the Other Three
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22 The German Times October 2018 ARTS & LIFE also happens to be 17 years old. BY JOACHIM KLAEHN Bayern is covering the €10-million transfer fee for the winger as well t is, generally speaking, very as the almost equally high bonus hard not to notice Cristiano MINOR LEAGUE payments. Davies is certainly no IRonaldo. In the case at hand, bargain, but he (hopefully) rep- the former Real Madrid star German soccer fans are worried about their clubs’ ability to stay competitive resents a promise for the future. was singing along to the offi- in the face of European rivals with massive spending power Either way, Uli “Mister Bayern” cial Champions League anthem Hoeneß has made it known that just prior to the start of the he intends to launch an attack in second-leg quarter-final against summer 2019 with an “aggres- his team’s cross-town rival Atlé- sive transfer policy.” According tico: “Die Meister – Die Besten to Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rum- – Les Grandes Équipes – The menigge, however, this doesn’t champions!” Back then, in April European soccer would be: Juven- League after a penalty shootout Germany’s first division teams showcase the attractiveness of the change any of the team’s sport- 2015, the egocentric Portuguese tus Turin. Club boss Andrea against Valencia in Milan, and in invested €460 million in new play- league,” said Kahn. “Ronaldo ing ambitions with regard to player was ridiculed for mouth- Agnelli (42), the last male heir 2013, they won 2:1 against Borus- ers. The Premier League spent would have been a milestone for 2018–19: “We want to relive what ing the words to the song. And in that famous Italian industrial sia Dortmund in London. After €1.39 billion for stars both big the Bundesliga.” we experienced in London in 2013 yet, it’s undeniable that this over- dynasty, made it clear from the that German-on-German final at and small. Italy’s Serie A spent In the meantime, the bosses at very soon,” said Rummenigge the-top anthem is designed to very beginning: “Juventus has Wembley Stadium, English soccer €1.072 billion, Spain’s Primera Bayern set out on a completely dif- unequivocally. have a shot-in-the-arm effect on to win the Champions League fans lauded and applauded the Divisíon spent €890 million and ferent path. In spite of the impend- Bayern is and will continue to professional soccer players: it’s this year.” And this is exactly virtues of German soccer on France’s Ligue 1 spent €634 mil- ing career exits of Arjen Robben be the Bundesliga’s trump card, at monumental, opulent and makes why the “Bulls” from Piedmont the streets and in the pubs of lion (including the €180 million and Franck Ribéry – two beloved least for the time being. But what the air crackle with tension and put €117 million on the table to the British capital. In fact, they transfer of mega talent Kylian Bayern stalwarts – the club was about the other three German excitement, which is exactly sign Cristiano Ronaldo. Of all virtually bowed down in front Mbappé from AS Monaco to noticeably restrained on this year’s Champions League starters, what this competition is about. people, it is now up to Ronaldo to of what they saw as the highly Paris Saint-Germain, which was This is soccer with thunderous break the winning streak of Real refreshing style of play practiced already in the bag in 2017). timpani, rich trumpets, a huge Madrid’s star-studded team (four by FCB and BVB, also register- Oliver Kahn (49), one of the string section and a magnificent Champions League titles in the ing that the youth and support chief critics of Germany’s devel- BAYERN IS THE choir – in other words, the type past five years!) and raise the cup system operated by the German opment process, recently came of Baroque showiness we expect on June 1st, 2019, in the Estadio Soccer Federation (DFB) and the forward to make a good point: TRUMP CARD, BUT from a sacred oratorio. Wanda Metropolitano, the home Bundesliga was a prolific, fruit- “It’s going to be difficult in the In the world of club soccer, stadium of Atlético Madrid. For bearing machine. One year later, future for Bundesliga clubs to the Champions League has been their part, the “Colchoneros” – the German national team would get absolute top players,” said WHAT ABOUT THE the measure of all things since even after their success in three go on to win the World Cup in the businessman and three-time the 1992–93 season. Today, recent Europa League champion- Rio de Janeiro under the tutelage world number-one goalkeeper. OTHER THREE GERMAN however, erstwhile enthusias- ships (2010, 2012 and 2018) – the of soccer aesthete Joachim Löw. “German clubs are still entirely tic German fans are becoming dream is to make it to the final That was less than five years dependent on success stories from CHAMPIONS LEAGUE weighed down by some tough and get their hands on that elusive ago. In 2018, after the shock of their first-class youth programs. questions: Are Bundesliga teams higher-ranking title, this time in their first-round elimination in But that can’t be the only strategy going to be able to keep up in the their own back yard, so to speak. Russia, the situation is sobering. they pursue over the long term.” TEAMS? Champions League? Or at least in Also among the favorites this “Die Mannschaft” is still trying Kahn put his finger even further its smaller and often unfairly chas- year, which include FC Liver- to find its inner balance, and the into the wound after Bayern presi- transfer market. The only new Schalke 04, TSG 1899 Hoffen- tised brother, the Europa League? pool, FC Barcelona, Manchester German clubs recently took a very dent Uli Hoeneß announced that signing that will cost anything is heim and Borussia Dortmund? Or is it really true that money can City and Paris Saint-Germain, humble approach – at least in his club had expressed no interest Alphonso Davies, an extremely For these clubs, the sole purpose is score goals? is Germany’s own behemoth, comparison to English, Spanish, whatsoever in acquiring CR7, aka talented Canadian national team to reach the knockout phase, there If true, then we already know FC Bayern München. In 2001, Italian and French teams – with Cristiano Ronaldo. “A player of player born in a refugee camp in doesn’t seem to be more in it than who the undisputed conqueror of Bayern won the Champions regard to new signings. that magnitude could have helped Ghana to Liberian parents who that. The “Royal Blues” from No matter where you are, you will always be at the centre of the action. Welcome on board a cruise ship fleet without compare – with small, individual ships and a high degree of personal freedom. Find out more about our luxury and expedition cruises at www.the-world-ahead-of-us.com THE WORLD AHEAD OF US October 2018 The German Times 23 ARTS & LIFE Gelsenkirchen-based Schalke and PICTURE ALLIANCE/AUGENKLICK starting in 2019. It is also encouraging that vari- the “Black and Yellows” from “We want to achieve something ous national and international Dortmund have invested the most big,” says Nagelsmann in his usual regulations (the binding 50+1 rule, in the league this year. Dortmund aggressive tone, when asked about UEFA’s Financial Fairplay) are spent roughly €75 million on Hoffenheim’s goals. TSG manager not being watered down by the new recruits Abdou Diallo, Axel Alexander Rosen, the congenial German Soccer League (DFL) but Witsel and Thomas Delaney, partner to that “little rascal” from actually followed. Indeed, despite among others. Schalke invested southwest Bavaria, sees the Cham- the free market attitude, profes- €54.2 million, upgraded their pions League as a huge incentive sional soccer still needs safeguards squad with the help of Sebastian for the small-town club: “We’re and boundaries. The most recent Rudy and simultaneously made not in it just to sing the anthem “DFL Report 2018” points, for an outstanding deal with the sale and travel to three very nice stadi- the first time, to a total turnover of youngster Thilo Kehrer for €37 ums. We want to leave our mark of €4.01 billion for the 36 clubs million to the Qataris at Paris in Europe.” of the first- and second-division Saint-Germain. Roughly €1.72 billion in prize Bundesliga. This marks a 4.2 per- In last year’s qualifiers, new- money was up for grabs in the cent increase in value over the comers Hoffenheim were unable Champions League last season; in 2016–17 season and the previous to get past FC Liverpool – a team the Europa League, that number year. That’s a record. that would go on to play in the was around €400 million. This Thanks to their balanced Champions League final – but are year, clubs in the English Premier sources of income, Bundesliga now eager to see how far they League will take in the equivalent teams are experiencing ongoing can make it in 2018–19 thanks of €2.3 billion in national TV rev- growth, financial health and high to six promising recruits (Leon- enues, followed by the Bundesliga levels of popularity among sports ardo Bittencourt, Vincenzo Grifo, (€1.16 billion), Ligue 1 (€1.153 fans, all of which allow them to Ishak Belfodil, Joshua Brenet, billion), Primera Divisíon (€1.1 continue to be able to compete at Kasim Adams Nuhu and Arsenal billion) and Serie A (€1.05 billion).