Report: Bayern Munich wanted Real Madrid's Federico Valverde to replace Thiago Alcantara

According to a report by Marca, Bayern Munich wanted Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde to replace Thiago Alcantara, who moved to Liverpool this summer. The Bavarians allegedly saw the Uruguayan as a perfect fit for their playstyle, but the deal never got going. Neither the player nor his club wanted the move to go ahead.

The entire report by Marca reads like shameless Real Madrid propaganda, which is to be expected. However, one interesting tidbit for Bayern fans will be the mention of the "special relationship" between the two clubs, which kept Bayern from using aggressive tactics to sign the player. If Bayern’s reported interest was real, then this reasoning checks out, because both clubs seem to value having good relations with each other. Back when Madrid were trying to sign Robert Lewandowski, they didn't take it very far to stay on the Bavarians' good side.

Federico Valverde is indeed a very talented player, so it's not surprising to hear that we might have been interested in him. But Bayern don't need to fret, because Joshua Kimmmich has stepped into Thiago’s shoes without hitch. In addition, the club acquired Espanyol midfielder Marc Roca, and also signed the highly rated Tiago Dantas from Benfica. Hansi Flick has a good midfield at his disposal, so if Valverde is happy at Madrid, there's no need for Brazzo to go back after him.

Now, Callum Hudson-Odoi on the other hand ...