Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge talks assessing older players and the futures of David Alaba and Douglas Costa

In another excerpt from this exclusive interview with Tuttosport, Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was asked about a few relevant transfer topics.

One of the key subjects was regarding how the Bavarians assess aging veterans — and if the recent success of 39-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovich at AC Milan gives any reason for the club to give more considerations to older players.

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

“It’s phenomenal and he proves it every week,” Rummenigge said of Ibrahimovich. “Ibra has carried the whole club, he is the leader of Milan. I have never been a hardliner (on always having young players), on the contrary: I always push for a mix of talents and expert champions. The latter help a lot, especially in the most complicated moments.”

As far as some of those veterans on his own roster go, Rummenigge addressed Juventus loanee Douglas Costa’s uncertain status after this season.

“We haven’t decided yet, it’s too early,” said Rummenigge said. “Surely, so far, we have been very happy with him. He’s doing well. Douglas, thanks to his dribbling skills, is the player we needed.”

The situation with Alaba was addressed in a different manner, though. Rummenigge was specifically asked if he would be disappointed if his “friend” — and Juventus president — Andrea Agnelli signed Alaba on a free transfer.

Rummenigge, of course, played his response right down the middle.

“Every team rightly thinks about reinforcing,” said Rummenigge. “It’s normal in this situation that top clubs think about Alaba. It’s up to him to decide. Maybe he’ll change his mind and stay.”

Juventus has been loosely mentioned as a potential suitor for Alaba with FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain considered the top-four contenders. With the respective financial issues of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona and Alaba’s alleged reluctance to go to France, perhaps Juventus could emerge as a more legitimate threat to lure Alaba away.