Jerome Boateng says he’s happy to stay at Bayern Munich for now

Jerome Boateng has been heavily linked with a move away from Bayern Munich a handful of times within the past two seasons, but the towering center back says he’s content on staying with Die Roten for now. Speaking to Welt am Sonntag (via BuliNews), Boateng said he’s open for what the future holds for him. His current contract with Bayern runs through June 2021, which means he’d be entering the last season on his contract next season. He said he’s just as open to a contract extension as he is with a potential move elsewhere.

When asked about whether he’d prefer signing an extension or moving abroad, he said he’s weighing both options: “Both. Before Hansi Flick took over as coach, I was already thinking about my future. At the moment I feel good and can imagine staying. I have my foll focus on FC Bayern and the current season.”

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Boateng has been a key piece in a back four comprised of himself, David Alaba, Benjamin Pavard, and Alphonso Davies that’s worked so well under Hansi Flick, and his increased minutes this season have been aided by long term injuries to both Lucas Hernandez and Niklas Sule. Sule would arguably be the preferred starting center back alongside Alaba, but Boateng has held firm with the opportunities he’s been given. For now, he doesn’t want to burden himself with thinking too much about a decision for his future. Rather, he’s just focused on finishing the season as strongly as possible and doing what’s asked of him by Flick: “I’m not putting myself under any pressure, my contract runs until the end of June 2021. The most important thing for me right now is what the coach says. I’ll take my time and let the rest come to me.”

Under Niko Kovac in the 2018/2019 season and the beginning of this season, Boateng wasn’t a regular feature for Bayern and he struggled to build any sort of consistency because he was never really given the proper chance to. It was rare that he would start a string of consecutive matches under Kovac, and that’s when transfer rumors were at their peak for Boateng. Even Uli Hoeness had strongly suggested Boateng leave Bayern last year. Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea had all expressed interest at one point or another since last season, but Boateng said he’s always been willing to fight for his place in Bayern’s squad, regardless of what the support from the manager is like: “I’ve always fought my way through the past few years, even when the support of the previous coach [Niko Kovac] or others wasn’t there. But I’m still standing here. I have always gone my own way and will continue to do so. My ambition is to keep improving myself and to help the team.”

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