Italian report on Ante Rebić refuted in Germany

Bayern Munich’s alleged pursuit of Ante Rebić is being called into question by Bild. As captured by Sport Bild, information from Bild has inferred that the story of Fali Ramadani travelling to Germany to negotiate was fabricated to drive up the Croatian’s value on the market.

As the Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla reports exclusively on his homepage and at “SportItalia”, Rebić’s consultant Fali Ramadani has traveled to Germany and is working on a change of his player to Bayern. He is said to have interrupted his extra vacation in Milan. According to BILD information, this information is probably only price gouging. Pedulla writes that FC Bayern should now be serious in the bidding for Rebić in order to forestall Manchester United. The Premier League club advertises - as Sport Bild had reported last week - to the Croat. Likewise Arsenal FC and SSC Napoli.

That is a strong claim, but perhaps the coming days will provide further detail on which news outlet was more on-point. Sport Bild also again referenced the gentleman’s agreement between Kovac and Eintracht Frankfurt that he would not attempt to lure any Eagles to Munich. What is not mentioned in the report, however, is how things change if Rebić is officially put on the market.

Although Rebić (contract until 2021) and Bayern coach Niko Kovac (46) have worked together successfully in Frankfurt, but is at Bayern a transfer of the Croats not up for discussion. Add to that the Kovac promise of not wanting to lure Eintracht players to Munich on their own. Only if Rebić would be more or less officially on the market, because another club starts a pursuit on the World Cup star, a change of Bayern could thus be a reality.

After a strong end to his season with Eintracht Frankfurt and an even better showing for Croatia in the World Cup, it is easy to think that Rebić is now, indeed, available.

Right now, this is a “he said-she said” matter, which will likely become more clear in the coming days. Regardless of what agreements were previously made; in the Wild Wild West that is the summer transfer window, promises are made to be broken.

To Eintracht Frankfurt, one buyer would be as good as another no matter who is coaching. If Die Adler is interested in selling Rebić, which appears to be an intelligent move given Rebić’s stock being higher than ever, it is doubtful they would exclude a bidder based on the coach.

That said, it is not exactly beyond a sports agent to use a friend in the media to try and initiate a bidding war for a client.

As always, stay tuned.