Daily Schmankerl: Rebic admires Kovac; Bernat to the Wolves?; and MORE!

Ante Rebic speaks high of Niko Kovac; wants to address future after World Cup (Goal.com)

Ante Rebic is one of those players whose reputation has taken a sharp turn upward since a dynamic showing in the DFB Pokal final and a very strong World Cup showing so far for Croatia. As we covered Tuesday, it could be a natural fit for Rebic to join his old coach Niko Kovac with Bayern Munich.

In a recent press conference that was captured by Goal.com, Rebic stated his admiration for fellow Croat Kovac and also his willingness to look at his future plans after the World Cup.

Since joining Bayern, Kovac has been linked with a raid on his old club, with Croatia forward Ante Rebic reportedly at the top of the list after spending two years working together. Asked about Kovac’s move and the possibility of joining him, Rebic told reporters: “I’ve been working with him for a number of years. He was very successful [at Eintracht]. He earned his place at Bayern. I’m a player of Eintracht and I’m only focused on the World Cup at the moment. After the World Cup, then we can talk [about my future].”

Juan Bernat to VfL Wolfsburg??? (Sportbuzzer)

Juan Bernat is not going to get the requisite playing time with Bayern that a 25-year old should. Bernat is entering his prime and is likely one of the players most buried on the bench by Bayern’s incredible depth. A solution to that problem could come with a move to...Die Wölfe?

Quite different is the case with Juan Bernat. The contract of Bayern’s backup left-back only runs one year; his future is open. The 25-year-old Spaniard, who moved to Munich in 2014, has played in 12 official games for the champion last season after recovering from a torn syndesmosis. That’s not enough for someone like Bernat, who is supposedly ready for a change, but only on the condition that he is not a backup at his new club. In Wolfsburg he wouldn’t be; the VfL is looking for a starting left-back, especially since it has a giant talent in reserve at this position in Gian-Luca Itter.

Bayern is just spreading the left back-wealth among the Bundesliga, so why stop with loaning Marco Friedl to Werder Bremen? A move to the Wolves for Bernat make sense for him honestly. He’s probably good enough to start for most teams in the Bundesliga and a one-year loan or sale to take Bernat to the end of his contract (June 2019) might help both him and Bayern.

I’m not sure how much sense it would make for Wolfburg, though. Gian-Luca Itter is considered one of Germany’s up-and-coming young talents. Bringing in Bernat would likely sacrifice a bit of Itter’s development.

Corentin Tolisso is rumored to be a starter for France against Uruguay (@Jon_LeGossip)

The last Bayern man standing in the World Cup is Corentin Tolisso, and it looks like he could be in line for start against Uruguay tomorrow per English journo Jonathan Johnson.

I am looking forward to seeing what a Leon Goretzka-Tolisso midfield pairing looks like at some point. Given the surplus of midfield talent in Munich, it would be a while before we see them paired together (unless Kovac uses a “non-standard” Bayern formation).

Cristiano Ronaldo being heavily link to a Juventus move (ManagingMadrid.com)

Everyone’s favorite Portuguese footballer (not you Renato Sanches!) may be heading to Juventus after a monumentally successful run at Real Madrid. Our sister site, Managing Madrid, is following the situation closely.

Former Juventus CEO Luciano Moggi revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo’s deal to join Juventus “is done.” “He has already signed his contract after passing his medical in Germany, that’s what very important people within Juventus told me,” revealed Moggi in an interview with Tele7Gold. Juventus would pay €100 million to sign Cristiano Ronaldo away from Real Madrid, according to a report from El Chiringuito. The Portuguese star will earn €30 million/year and would sign a four-season contract with the Italian club, per that same report.

Should anything official be announced, we would likely post it and subsequently tip a 40 for our friends over at Managing Madrid.

The Frauen highlighted this tremendous goal from last season by Sara Däbritz (@FCBfrauen)

Sara Däbritz uncorked this masterful goal last season and it’s about time to start getting a little excited for the Frauen’s upcoming season, no?

The FC Bayern basketball squad wishes Schorschi “George” Beyschlag a happy birthday (@fcb_basketball)

That gear is sweet, George! Beyschlag, a point guard, turned 21 yesterday.

Off topic, I know the MLS takes massive heat as a “retirement” league, but would anyone object to Dirk Nowitzki playing one “retirement season” with FC Bayern basketball team?