The Zahavi Special: Bayern Munich’s David Alaba offers himself to FC Barcelona

If we learned anything from Robert Lewandowski’s potential transfer saga two summers ago, it was that super-agent Pini Zahavi will try just about anything to get the best possible deal for his client. Frankly, that is what a good agent should do.

The flip-side of that, however, is that we also learned that the Bayern Munich board refused to blink when Zahavi reached into his bag of tricks by offering Real Madrid up as a potential destination for the Polish Hitman.

Now, with ultra-valuable David Alaba in his stable of clients, Zahavi is once again trying to leverage a La Liga power in hopes of garnering a bigger pay day for his client. Per Sport, the 28-year-old Austria international has made himself available to FC Barcelona, which has reportedly had interest in the talented and versatile veteran for years.

Better, FC Barcelona does not quite have the cash to put forth a competitive bid for Alaba this summer, but would be happy to take the Austrian on a free transfer next summer. Who wouldn’t want Alaba on a free transfer? But, I digress...

Anyway, the interest from Barcelona is not really a shock as the Catalan club has long been an admirer of Alaba’s work. For Barca, Alaba could fill any number of roles given his capability to play left-back, center-back, or as a central-midfielder.

With contract talks reportedly at a stall, the negotiations appear to be growing a bit frustrating and possibly contentious. Still, it would be shocking if Bayern Munich’s triumvirate of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Oliver Kahn, and Hasan “Brazzo” Salihamidizic was bullied by Zahavi during these contract discussions. Similar to Lewandowski’s long and drawn out summer saga, it is highly doubtful that Bayern Munich will let an agent completely dictate how this will all play out.

BFW Analysis

Alaba’s value to Bayern Munich is indisputable. Aside from his keen ability to slide into a number of different positions, he is a supreme talent, who has added a dynamic presence as a center-back, which helped revitalize Bayern Munich’s season.

While it has long been discussed that Alaba would like to — at some point — make a move to Barcelona, the timing and finances for a move this summer do not quite line up despite what Zahavi might want everyone to believe.

On a side note, while we all love Alphonso Davies and his talent, let’s not be so quick to forget just how good Alaba was as a left-back for all of those years. For my money, Alaba is still the world’s gold standard at the position, even if he now has his eyes set on a future a central defender or central midfielder.