Two, one, risk: The solution for FC Bayern is a problem child from the island

These are tough times for the German record champions. Jamal Musiala is out for months after a difficult-to-watch scene in the match against PSG, and the transfer market is full of rejections. A look into their own past might provide a solution.

There is anxiety, and probably prayers too. The injury diagnosis for Jamal Musiala has kept FC Bayern on their toes in the hours following their Club World Cup exit. Off the field, however, the diagnosis has been clear for months: repeated bloody noses. FC Bayern started getting these from numerous coaches last summer, and the trend on the player market seems to be continuing in 2025. The club apparently failed to clearly outline Florian Wirtz's future role, Nico Williams wanted too much money and ultimately stayed in Bilbao. VfB Stuttgart is demanding a transfer fee beyond good and evil for Nick Woltemade (which is his right). And the German government can follow all of these developments virtually in real time.

Musiala's injury comes at an inopportune time for the record champions. There was already a need for it beforehand, but now the attack is in danger of completely falling apart. If Thomas Müller departs as planned, the squad will include clear fixture Michael Olise, as well as Kingsley Coman, whose departure had not been completely ruled out, and Serge Gnabry. Lennart Karl (17) and Paul Wanner (19) complete the squad. At least for now, Wanner is a hot candidate for a loan, possibly to Stuttgart. FC Bayern's need for several players in various positions could be a boon for several selling clubs. Unless, of course, the record champions themselves take advantage of a dire situation.

Drastic times, drastic measures

One idea: This very predicament has long since become a permanent condition at Manchester United. The once great club completely collapsed last season. 15th (!) place in the league. Several players are on the hit list. Among them is the Argentinian winger Alejandro Garnacho. The 21-year-old is in the football world's spotlight twice within a month in the winter of 2023. On October 24, he tramples the penalty spot in a Europa League match after the opponents from Copenhagen are awarded a penalty. On November 26, he scores with an incredible overhead kick against Everton. The goal is later honored with the Puskas Award for Goal of the Year.

That pretty aptly describes the spectrum Garnacho walks. Last season, he fell out with coach Ruben Amorim. The creative player was particularly upset by his short playing time of 19 minutes in the Europa League final loss to Tottenham. According to media reports, the coach told him in front of the entire team to find a new club. On a season-ending tour of Malaysia, he repeatedly gave fans the middle finger.

More dangerous in front of goal than Sané and Gnabry

Despite Manchester United being a hindrance to his career and constantly fluctuating between genius and madness, Garnacho scored 21 points last season. More than Serge Gnabry. More than the now-departed Leroy Sané. Even more interesting than Garnacho's current state is his potential. At 21, he is still far from the peak of his career. He is tricky, incredibly fast, and over the past year has developed a good instinct in the penalty area. While at the beginning of his career he seemed like a textbook left winger, running on the counterattack or cutting the ball into the far corner with his right foot, some of his goals in recent months have been classic striker moments. Position yourself in the right place, react quickly, and score. Exactly what FC Bayern needed against PSG. His ten assists also prove that Garnacho is not a black hole who simply fires every ball at the goal. The icing on the cake is Garnacho's versatility. In addition to his regular position on the wing, he can also play as a number ten - and could thus fill the Musiala gap, at least in the short term.

But of course, all that glitters is not gold. To put it bluntly: If there were no doubts about a player like Garnacho, he would be unattainable for FC Bayern. Too many red flags for the Red Devils. So why should Bayern now put the sleeping giant out of its misery? A look at the club's past is enough to see this: FC Bayern has always had very good experiences with enfant terribles. Mario Basler, Stefan Effenberg, Mark van Bommel, Franck Ribéry. None of them are the easiest characters to handle, but they are of enormous importance to the record champions.

A risk, but a manageable one

Garnacho represents a type of player who has always been important for FC Bayern – and may become even more so in the future. Given the spending of their rivals, the record champions are increasingly trying to punch above their weight in the Champions League. While acquiring the biggest names in the world of football from outside has never been the hallmark of Munich's success, the pool of unattainable players has steadily grown in recent years. Neither the best German players nor the best Bundesliga players are guaranteed signings for FCB these days, as has been demonstrated by Kevin De Bruyne, Kai Havertz, Christopher Nkunku, Josko Gvardiol, and most recently Florian Wirtz.

A Garnacho transfer would likely be a rather expensive bet. The transfer fee for the Argentinian is likely to be somewhere around €40-60 million. Fortunately, FC Bayern is the only Bundesliga club that can afford to bet that much on red at the roulette wheel. In the worst case scenario, Garnacho, even in the record champions' jersey, will be conspicuous for his lack of discipline and overly large ego. Then he'll probably still score enough points against teams in the bottom half of the Bundesliga table to sell him at a slight loss in a year and a half.

The new face of FC Bayern

Or he'll hit the ground running. Bayern will get him back on track, he'll drive Germany's defenses to despair alongside Michael Olise and a one-time return of Jamal Musiala, and after decades of absence, he'll finally become a marketable face for FC Bayern in South America. And in a few years, Eberl, Hoeneß, and co. will be laughing their heads off at what a bargain the Argentinian with the number 7 (just a vague prediction) was.

He wouldn't be as safe a prospect as Leipzig's Xavi Simons, who would also be a significantly heavier burden on the books. Freiburg's Ritsu Doan or Brighton's Kauro Mitoma could be had for less money, but they don't have Garnacha's potential. Such an experiment also fits FC Bayern's current situation. The FC Bayern of the future is currently forming around young coach Vincent Kompany, the hopefully soon-to-be-recovered Jamal Musiala, and wing sensation Michael Olise (and soon Nick Woltemade?). Without Thomas Müller, without Manuel Neuer.

No matter who the club chooses to strengthen their wingers, winning the league is as likely as challenging for the trophy is ambitious. Garnacha can't destroy much, but he can build a lot. And if doubts about his maturity become too great, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford are also on the Red Devils' hit list. And a club like FC Bayern should be confident enough to bring at least one of them back to their former glory.